2013

by Spring People People Spring by Lenten Devotional Lenten

“Blessed is the man…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water…” Psalm 1:2-3a

The Spring Worshipping at 340 E. 15th Street, Tempe, AZ Sunday Worship 5:00 P.M. Fellowship Dinner following Worship Page #0

Are you wondering why we picked the Psalms for Lent? Here are Tom’s insights…

Language of the Heart by Tom Parker doubt, but the rest of us sometimes wonder when God is going The Sunday after Easter in 1995 I was going to give my to act against evil. We have three possible responses to an pastor a break and preach. My text was from the end of John, Oklahoma City bombing: one, we can pretend that it doesn’t but something happened that week that changed my sermon plans. On Wednesday, a bomb demolished the Federal Building bother us; two, we can get angry with God and never talk to in Oklahoma City. Innocent men and women, preschoolers, Him again; or, three, we can tell God how we really feel. That’s even babies, were ravaged by the explosion, and they were no why I love the psalms, because they give us permission to tell more. Gone was the joy of Easter Sunday. Gone, too, was my God how we really feel. God, in His kindness, wants us to tell happy post-Easter sermon. Everyone I knew was devastated by Him how we really feel, what we really think. the horror. Psalm 94 concludes that God will indeed judge the I was in a quandary. I didn’t know how to pray, and I wicked. While that is comforting, it is important to note that in didn’t know what to preach. What could I say about the people this psalm the resolution only occurs by walking through the who wrought this violence? Several members of my church told questions, the doubt, and the pain. We could say that the point me they were angry, but they did not know what to do with that of Psalm 94 is that God will judge the wicked, but if that is the anger. They seemed to feel that they were somehow unchristian point, why do we have this psalm in the first place? Why not just for being angry. I knew that feeling. a proverb, “God will indeed judge the wicked”? It is doubtful How do you pray when you suffer or when people you that the truth of this psalm can be put in a nice propositional love suffer? How do you pray when people you do not like (even statement. If we did not have the shape, form, and words of this hate?) get ahead? How do you pray when the world doesn’t psalm, integrity would be lost. For this psalm has profound make sense? How do you pray when you have some doubts or honesty, and we never want to lose honesty with God. Good are angry with God? theology is not just what you say, but how you say it. And this I found my answer in the book of Psalms. The psalms psalm teaches us how to pray. It does not force us to straighten give us a complete picture of prayer. They take on the whole of up, sit down, pretend not to be angry, or not feel, let alone speak life. They give us words for all occasions, from the height of joy about negative emotions that “good Christians” shouldn’t feel. to the depths of despair. The psalms let us feel what we feel. The Rather it gives us permission to pray as we are, as we see, as we psalms meet us where we are and give us words to say to God. feel. They are a language of the heart. Psalm 94 does not fix the present problem. Bad people That week, as I tried to figure out what to say about the do not immediately disappear after we pray and recite Psalm 94. bombers, what to pray about the horror, and what to preach But it helps us to be who we are with God, and it puts our about the devastation, I remembered the psalms. Now, I don’t problem into His hands to solve. And while we may not be able mean the nice ones – you know, the 23rd, the 91st, the 100th. I to understand, praying honestly puts us in direct contact with the remembered that group of psalms called laments. As I read One who is able to transform both the situation and the them, I found the right word to describe the bombers: problem. “evildoers.” As I read these psalms, I found the words to pray, Psalm 73 is another psalm that helps us to deal with “How long, O Lord?” As I read these psalms, I found a psalm to reality. t is called a wisdom psalm. The first verse is a nice preach – the 94th. confession of faith: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who “O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who are pure in heart.” avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to We can’t help but say amen, but then we realize there is the proud what they deserve” (vv. 1-2). This is not something more involved than a new creed. “But as for me, my feet had most Christians pray, but it is something most Christians feel at almost slipped: I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the times. And during the week of the bombing, no one would have arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (vv. 2-3). It is been upset with the idea that God is a God of vengeance. not that we want to be one of the arrogant or wicked; it is just “How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will that when we read about them in People magazine, we wonder the wicked be jubilant?” (v. 3). Is this a prayer of faith since it how come they get the fat paycheck, the fast cars, and fabulous questions God? Who am I to question God? And yet, here it is, houses. in scripture, as words for us to pray. There may be people of From verse 2 to 15 the psalmist vents his frustrations. perfect faith who never question, never wonder, and never He gets honest with God. But then something happens to him.

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“Till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood inmost being, praise his holy name” (Ps. 103:1). Once again the their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you psalms understand how we feel; they put into words our awe and cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, wonder of God. And they teach us as individuals and as completely swept away by terrors!” (vv. 17-19) Something communities to unite our hearts, minds, and lips in the praise of happens when we worship with the community of God. We God. begin again to see the world the way we should see it. We begin The psalms give us words for so many different cries of to realize what God can do. our hearts. The psalms understand the depth of our sorrow of “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, sinning against God. The seven penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet 102, 130, 143) teach us how to deal with our sin, and confront us I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand” (vv. 21- in our times of confession. No book on prayer has taught me 23). A transformation takes place in the presence of God. The more on how to confess my sins to God. How amazing that immediate situation does not instantly change, but the God would provide words for us for the very times that we rebel perspective does. We realize that we can be idiotic toward God. against Him. But even at those times God is with us. The psalmist does not Other wonderful psalms point us to trust in God in get there by denying what he sees, but rather by taking what he times of trouble. I have visited people in the hospital who had sees to God. And we are given permission to pray this psalm or every reason to lament, but their spirits drew near to God in a to pray like this psalm because it is a biblical prayer. When we different way, through psalms that express trust in the Lord. entrust God with our most idiotic notions, we make Him Lord “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in not only of our good parts, but of our bad ones, as well. In this trouble” (46:1). “The LORD is my shepherd” (23:1). “The way he can have all of us. And in that time with God, we can LORD is my light and my salvation” (27:1). The language of realize with the psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And these psalms, while containing some direct address to God, is earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart primarily reflective self-talk that reminds us of God’s greatness may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion and goodness. These words provide comfort and truth in the forever” (vv. 25-26). midst of dark times. But they are not mere mantras to be Psalms 94 and 73 have “happy endings.” But there are chanted to “psych” ourselves up and out of our troubles. They psalms that do not end nice and neat, that do not fit into a are reminders of the One who is able to deliver us. sanitized worldview. Psalms 44 and 88 are two of those. They Many of us pray by using formulas and lists. These are are prayers for times of deep emptiness. If they were not in not wrong, but to have a full range of expression with God, we Scripture, we might wonder about the faith of the authors. They must be able to verbalize all our feelings in prayer. The psalms might not be warm and fuzzy prayers, but they do keep the enable us to do that. They also teach us how to talk about the conversation with God going. space – the emptiness – in our lives. They talk about every part A god who only likes happy prayers is no god. Our of our lives – from the depths of doubt and despair to the God allows us to address Him, even challenge Him when we heights of joy and wonder. God, in His kindness, allows us to pray. If we can learn from God how to deal with pain and come to Him as we are and to say what we think and feel as emptiness in our prayer life, will it be hard to talk to Him about individuals and as His community. “Give thanks to the LORD, our joy? for he is good; his love endures forever” (118:29). But the laments are not the only psalms that provide a language for the heart. The thanksgiving psalms provide another ©June 1997 Discipleship Journal kind of language. They teach us to express our thankfulness for what God has done in our lives. A great example, Psalm 30, begins with a cry of praise: “I will exalt you O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths.” Then it refers to the psalmist’s previous prayer: “O LORD my God, I called to you for help” (v. 2). From there we learn of the Lord’s deliverance, “and you healed me.” The thanksgiving psalms help us to remember that it was God who heard and answered our prayers. They express the joyful and evangelistic nature of thanksgiving. “Sing to the LORD, you saints of his” (v. 4). Not only do we sing praises to God, but we learn to tell everyone else of His deliverance. Psalms of praise are second only to the laments in occurrence in the Psalter. If we want to learn to praise God for who He is and what He does, we need not go any further than the psalms. “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth” (Ps. 8:1). “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my Page #2

Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Psalm 51:1-17 1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Devotion by: Gayle Parker The psalmist is painfully aware of his sin. “It is always before me.”(v. 2) “Against you I have sinned …” he says to the Lord. Usually, when I sin, it’s against the Lord and at least one other person. That’s the honest truth. The psalmist owns up to it – fully and completely. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me, yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb…” (v. 6) St. Augustine said we were born into sin – into the sin of Adam and Eve – theologians call it the doctrine of original sin. We can’t escape the fact that, in this life, even the most sincere Christian turns away from the Lord. Sin is in our DNA. The worst thing we can do is blame others or excuse ourselves. The best thing we can do is come clean. Howard Schultz, retired CEO of Starbucks, returned to lead the company, which was struggling, to turn around. He commented that before they could move forward, they had to deal with the past by honestly admitting their mistakes. Here's an excerpt from that interview in Harvard Business Review (July-August 2010): When I returned in January 2008, things were actually worse than I'd thought. The decisions we made were very difficult, but first there had to be a time when we stood up in front of the entire company as leaders and made almost a confession—that the leadership had failed the 180,000 Starbucks people and their families. And even though I wasn't the CEO…I should have known better. I am responsible. We had to admit to ourselves and to the people of this company that we owned the mistakes that were made. Once we did, it was a powerful turning point. It's like when you have a secret and get it out: The burden is off your shoulders. As lent begins, and we read this psalm, especially verses 10 and 17, pray to be made clean from the inside out. Don’t be afraid to be honest – get the burden of your sin off your shoulders.

Lord, I cast myself on your mercy. Make me clean from the inside out; deliver me from my guilt; restore to me the joy of my salvation. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, AMEN.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,* 2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ … 9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,* the Most High your dwelling-place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

Devotion by: Gayle Parker Living or abiding in the shelter of the Lord is different than visiting it once in a while. There is a sense of consistency/constancy in the description the psalmist offers in verse 1. The person who lives in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, well, that’s the person who is close to God. She knows God personally - “my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” During Lent, we are seeking to plant ourselves consistently in the shelter of the Most High God. To be close to him in prayer, walk near him in obedience, be attentive to following closely where he leads, close enough to be in his shadow. The psalmist is unwavering in his confidence that God will protect him. In the middle section of the psalm, he elaborates on various kinds of things that happen in which we need God’s protection – attacks, diseases, battles, dangers from the environment and other people. The world is not a safe place, and God knows it and is committed to protecting us. Because the Lord is your refuge, “no evil shall befall you…” (v. 10) The Lord even commands his angels “to guard you” (v. 11), describing how they will help protect the one who trusts the Lord. These words can be easily misunderstood or even misused. Satan used them to try to tempt Jesus to throw himself off the temple to prove that God would protect him, and Jesus refused to test God in that way (Luke 4:9-12). Christians have sometimes misunderstood them to promise that nothing bad will ever happen to people who have enough faith in God. Experience, as well as holistic biblical theology, proves just the opposite. Because the world is a dangerous place, we seek safe places of refuge. This psalm tells us that “the only safe and impregnable fortress to which we can betake ourselves is the protection of God.” (John Calvin, Psalms, 3:478). He is the one who will rescue me, not I myself. He is the one who will rescue me, not more money or greater influence or even a big enough army. If you are in trouble, if life is hard right now, if someone is seeking to hurt you with their words or their deeds, seek refuge in the Lord. Place yourself consistently in the shadow of the Almighty. Stay close to him. He says to you, I will deliver; will protect; will answer; will be with you in trouble; will rescue and honor you…” Our God can be trusted to do that again and again as we journey through this life, and, indeed, protect and save us for all eternity.

Almighty God, you are my refuge and fortress, my God. I trust you and place myself under your protection. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

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Friday, February 15, 2013 Psalm 42:1-4 1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God ? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

Devotion by: Paul & Anne Marie Cruz The writer David, compares his deep longing for communion with God as deer panting for water. Although, thirst is a physical need, David says his soul pants and thirsts. Our soul describes our inmost being, from the inside out, he is desperate for even a drop to quench his deep longing for closeness with his creator. David is broken, living off grief and loneliness using his salty tears to stave himself until he can meet with God. Instead of people giving him a drink, they mock him, jeering and questioning the power of God, asking, “Where is your God?” Much like the crowd mocking Jesus while he is being tortured and hanging on the cross. Instead of proving God’s power to save himself in the moment, he sacrifices himself so that we might be able to meet with him in any place. He answers our call and quenches our thirst. We no longer have to wait to enter the holy place. Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you! 1Corinthians 3:16 Although we might feel far from God sometimes, lonely and afraid, we know that because Jesus died on the cross, Christ lives in us. We no longer have to wait! We are free! We are free to live in joy of communion with the Holy One.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for sacrificing yourself on the Cross in order to give us freedom to live with you. We are not alone. Your spirit lives in us making us more than conquerors. We can overcome our brokenness and fear and live in freedom. Thank you for making us whole again. Amen.

Saturday, February 16, 2013 Psalm 42:5-11 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember youfrom the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Devotion by: Stephanie Farmer There will always be these seasons—seasons of sadness and hardship. We find our hearts riddled with fears, doubts, distrust, self- hatred, depression, or loneliness. For many, we have seen the light before, but cannot see it now. We have known the freedom of the Lord intimately, but it now seems a distant memory. Similar to David in verse 5 and 11, we have found ourselves desperately asking, “How has this happened? What has taken me over? Who have I become?” David approaches his sadness by asking himself difficult questions and seeking to understand, not only his own heart, but the heart of the Lord as well. “Why do I feel this way? Why have you forgotten me? Why must I be oppressed like this? Where are you, God?” The conclusion he arrives at in this passage is surprisingly direct. He prompts himself to return to the reactions that used to be second nature to him in seasons of joy and peace: to hope, praise, and to remember his Savior. In the middle of struggles, determine to be hopeful, decide to praise Him, and choose to remember the goodness of the Lord. As we struggle to overcome in times like these, it is easy to feel hopelessly overwhelmed and lost. Many times we attempt to be our own savior and are consumed by the crashing waves—we have forgotten that the Lord is the Commander, and the waves are his. When we depend on our own strength, we falter. It is clear to David though that we are hopelessly dependent on our Father; our only salvation is our God. All of this pain is not purposeless, though. Fears and sorrows, once conquered by the Lord, turn into triumphant stories and roadmaps for those who are still lost in the raging storm. Just as David’s songs of adversity and hardship ring true today, our stories that illustrate Christ’s grace can be used by our God to “direct his love” to his children in the day and act as his song of comfort for them at night

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Sunday, February 17, 2013 Psalm 103:8-18 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Devotion by: Andrew & Katie Szabo In Psalm 103: 8-18, David is coming before God in awe and joyously thanking and praising the Lord’s goodness. This Psalm shows us what it looks like to be aware of God’s greatness and how to approach Him in fearful awe in the midst of the relentless blessings the Lord pours over us. David celebrates the Lord’s mercy and emphasizes His patience. He is “slow to anger” because the Lord would much rather love us and have us dwell with Him than “keep His anger forever” or “deal with us according to our sins” (v. 8, 9, 10). David says that the Lord “knows our frame, He knows who we are and where we’ve been and He pursues us, showering us with lavish blessings” (v. 14). He is quick to love and to forgive- leaving no small distance between us and our sin but instead casting our sin so far out of sight that He may be at the forefront of our vision, closest to us, without our transgressions or His anger to hinder us from a deeper intimate relationship with Him. How great, steadfast, merciful, and patient He is, indeed. This Psalm offers us a practical example of what it looks like to come before the Lord, knowing His power, strength, and His wrath, but also knowing His intense and perfect capacity for love, mercy, and patience. This psalm gives us permission to come before God, in appropriate awe and respect, but also with the knowledge that He wants to cast off our sin and rescue us. His patience means that He will not rebuke us for an eternity; instead He wishes to wash us off and bring us into His warm, safe arms. The great, Almighty God chooses forgiveness first and blesses much quicker than He punishes or condemns. This should lessen our fear and shame of what we’ve done and intensify our desire to run to Him and be reconciled with Him… and to sing and celebrate it with wild abandon like David.

Lord, thank You that we can come before You and be in Your presence. Thank You for choosing mercy, love, and forgiveness when we deserve death, and for blessing us in such ways that show You really have erased our sins. Give us jubilant spirits, let our faces shine with this knowledge, and let us feel it in our hearts until it overflows and touches those around us, Amen.

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Monday, February 18, 2013 Psalm 27 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. 7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations .13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Devotion by: A. J. Pitkin Have you ever felt like you’ve been abandoned in a time of crisis? Have you ever encountered fear that is so debilitating, you can’t move? Although most of us have never been chased by devouring animals, had an army encamped around us, or a war arise against us, we all know what it’s like to be in circumstances that are wrought with fear or feel hopeless – dare I say, feel like God has deserted us (although the aforementioned sure puts some of our own fear and hopelessness in perspective). Even though David experienced the provision of God firsthand in some incredible ways, it would be easy to understand why he might be afraid or feel alone. However, we find in this Psalm that his crying out is the exact opposite. David immediately identifies the Lord as his “light and salvation.” He’s confident in this fact, and, therefore, declares it with boldness. He follows with more personal attributes of God; making his posed question of “whom shall I fear?” a rhetorical one. Even though David describes situations that would strike fear into most people, David knows that nothing has power or authority over God. In fact, time after time, God showed up and provided for him. Two thoughts come to mind in reading this Psalm as we prepare for Holy Week: First, we will all go through seasons of darkness, despair, fear, and hopelessness. But just like the Psalmist David proclaims, God is our light and He is our salvation. Because of what Christ did on the cross, we know that the Holy Spirit has given us power and authority over those things. Second, the cross should give us the peace that David sought for in spite of fear. Peace in knowing that we have a God who cared more about us, he’d be willing to die to himself for each of us.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me power and authority over the things that might bring me to doubt you. May I always seek your face despite the things that trouble me. Thank you for loving me enough that you’d sacrifice your own life so that I could gain mine. Amen.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Psalm 63: 1-8 1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Devotion by: Tony Montoya Have you ever had a drink that sticks with you? Not a horrid taste you can’t get off your tongue or something that sits like a rock at the pit of your stomach, but a drink that you know will satisfy the thirst that has dried your tongue? Living in Arizona we know what it’s like to feel the sting of heat on every inch of our skin. There isn’t much better than an iced beverage to take the edge off a long summer day spent in this desert we call home. Now imagine you are a King. You are being pursued, in the heat of the desert, by your own son, who wants to take over the throne. This son has already killed one of his brothers. This is a child you love, but he is bent on your destruction. You are running from your own son. What would you REMEMBER? What are your thoughts at this most desperate moment? Would you REMEMBER that one thing that most satisfies your hunger? Would you REMEMBER what your “soul thirsts for”(v.1)? David when pursued by his son Absalom decides to REMEMBER what has most satisfied him in the past. David has been pursued in the desert before. He knows the wilderness. He knows that God has been his help. I don’t think this made it any easier for him. I don’t think he shrugged off the pain of being betrayed and abhorred by his son. David during this time in the desert being pursued by one that should love him, went up the Mount of Olives “weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot” (2 Sam. 15:31). Those are actions of someone in mourning. He mourns over this wilderness time, but he also wrote Psalm 63. His pain in this betrayal brings him to REMEMBER who has upheld him. He REMEMBERS who God is in these times. He sings a song of REMEMBERENCE. He REMEMBERS what satisfies him. He is “satisfied as with a rich feast’ (v.5). He praises in the pain. May you REMEMBER in the desert wilderness the feast that stays with you and may you be satisfied by it.

Lord, In our time of Lent let us REMEMBER you are with us in the dry parched days we don’t feel you, in the moments we can’t see you, in our hearts when we can’t feel you, and in our spirits that so easily feel betrayed. Be for us, as you always are, a refreshing drink that restores us body and spirit. Amen.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Psalm 32: 1-7 1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then 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. 6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7 You are my hiding plac; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Devotion by: Tony Montoya Some of the more memorable times of my childhood were when friends would come stay the night at our house. It always turned into a mad Hide and Seek extravaganza. We would get into the smallest places in the house or the darkest corner available and sit as quietly as possible. When I was hiding, I was always scared. I could hear my breathing louder than any other noise in the house. I knew it was a friend searching for me, but the purpose of the game was to not be found. Then, probably because I was a husky child, they found me, and then it would be me with my head against the wall slowly counting down: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5……… We play at different forms of Hide and Seek now. We still hide. And it would seem that our hiding is not unlike when we were kids. We get scared; we hear things that aren’t really there; we lumber like a husky child trying so hard to not be found. But as the psalm states; “While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long”(v.3). When we hide our sin, it feels like it invades our entire body and being. We lock our jaw and avert our eyes and keep silent about the things we want so desperately to hide. The NIV writes it “my bones waste away.” The stuff we don’t want people to know about us, slowly eats at us. “My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (v.4). But now the game changes a bit. Though we are still sought, we have to choose to step out in the light and stop hiding. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah” (v.5). The brilliance is that like when we were kids it is even now a friend seeking us. It is one that is excited to find us and that will protect our hearts when we acknowledge our mess and need for healing. “At a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them” (v.6). We thought that hiding our sin was protecting us, but when we stop hiding, it is then that we are truly protected and “are hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Lord, we want to stop running to the shadows where there is false security. Help us to come running out of darkness and into the light and say with renewed freedom from our transgressions that “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah”(v.7). Help us to be hid only in you. Amen.

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Thursday, February 21, 2013 Psalm 126 1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Devotion by: cathy graff A Commemorative Memory and A Future Hope. Have you ever wished for, prayed for, ached for, dreamed of a blessing you wanted to come true? When I was little, everyone I played with had sisters and brothers, and some had lots. I saw the families together and the kids playing, and I just wanted one sibling in my family. I wanted one so much that when I was three, I created one. His name was Gregory, and he caused some embarrassment when company accidentally sat on him in the chair or wondered why my mother had set an extra place at the table to indulge my imagination. But Gregory didn’t grow up with me, and the longing for a sister or brother (brother if I could choose) intensified. What I didn’t know at my age is how the longing and prayer was also intense in my mom and dad and how much they went through waiting for one more blessing. I was almost ten-year-old; and after a decade of hoping, five miscarriages, and a new physician who provided excellent medical care, we were delirious when Stu was born. He was a miracle delivered as an answer to prayer. Feelings like that are never forgotten. Can you imagine waiting decades for a joyful event…or waiting generations, as the Israelites did, patiently believing in the promise of release from enslavement in Babylon. Finally, Cyrus of Persia defeated the great Babylonian Empire, and the Israelites in exile could return home to Zion, Jerusalem. (v. 1 “The LORD brought back the captives to Zion). How their hearts did leap for joy when the promise of captives released was realized. That is the ecstasy verses 1-3 remember, an anniversary the people will celebrate for generations to come. Every time we celebrate Stu’s birthday, I remember the feelings of a dream fulfilled. I remember my daddy telling me, “You have a baby brother.” An anniversary of any special event returns you again to the dream fulfilled and the laughter and joy recalls how “The LORD has done great things for us,” (v. 3). Remembering the goodness of God in our lives helps us when we face tough times. At verse 4, the psalmist prays that God would do again what he did before “Restore our fortunes.” So he models for us how to pray: remember what God has done, and pray that He will do it again. The psalmist teaches us as he prays to picture the outcome. “Restore our fortunes”. For Israel, it will be like the Negev desert when the rains fill the gullies and the drought ends(v. 4) or like the farmers who plant seeds, uncertain of when they’ll sprout or what the weather will bring, but trusting in God’s goodness that there will be a bountiful harvest. It will be as it was when they were released from Babylon, the disaster again overcome because of God’s providence. So the psalmist’s faith guides us today. Are you going through a hard time now? Remember the wonderful ways God has acted in your life and the lives of God’s people in the past. Remember the things He has promised. Picture what it will look like for Him to restore you again. The psalmist had the history of God’s preservation of the Israelites on which to base his faith. We have so much more – the life, atoning death, and joyful resurrection of Jesus Christ which promises that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…” (Roman 8:28).

LORD God, you preserve, protect, and provide for us. May we, like the faithful who have gone before us, look back and joyfully remember the way you have fulfilled your promises for your people. Lead us to trust in your promises today in every circumstance and situation we face. Amen.

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Friday, February 22, 2013 Psalm 89: 1-29 1 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. 3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ]5 The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 9 You rule over the surging sea;when its waves mount up, you still them. 10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. 11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. 12 You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. 13 Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted .14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. 18 Indeed, our shield[e] belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel .19 Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. 20 I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. 21 My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. 22 The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. 23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. 24 My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. 25 I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. 26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ 27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. 28 I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. 29 I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Devotion by: Tony Montoya Verses 1-29 of Psalm 89 are a reminder of God’s promise of the Davidic Covenant with Israel. God promised to fulfill this covenant he had with the people of Israel. God has a King for his people, a good, just, and anointed King. He is a faithful King, as it says of God, “Your faithfulness surrounds You” (V. 8). A friend once told me, when I was struggling through a desert time made by my own hand, that I should listen to my life. It is hard to hear my life and my heart when the things of my life are so noisy, bright, and distracting to my eyes. I am easily distracted and not “surrounded by faithfulness.” I so quickly wander from promises God has made to me. To hear that God is surrounded at all times by his faithfulness is so alien to me. In our culture we are constantly surrounded. There isn’t a moment when we aren’t distracted by everything that our “brave new world” has to offer. It is the movie in our hand at all times, the DVD player in our cars, and the continual feed of information available to us. We spend countless hours filling our day with distractions and surround ourselves with noise that blocks out our Faithful God’s tender voice. We should be wary of anything that does not allow us to stop even for an hour, let alone a minute, to listen to our lives and hear what our God that is surrounded by faithfulness has to say to us. We may hear something if we listen. We may hear that he “rules the raging sea; and when its waves rise HE stills them” (v.9) We may hear “that his hand will always remain” (v. 21). We might hear a God that is faithful through every generation to keep his promise, even though everything to the contrary is being drummed in our ears. Take a moment, and listen, listen to your life and hear God remind you of his promises to us.

God, slow our hearts and our minds to hear you. Let us relentlessly slow ourselves so we can experience your closeness. Speak to us in this time of Lent of your great faithfulness and we will hear you and we will “sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever” (v.1). Amen.

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Saturday, February 23, 2013 Psalm 56: 1-57:1 1 Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. 2 My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. 6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps hoping to take my life. 7 Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down .8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record? 9 Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me .10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise—11 in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?12 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Devotion by: Jordan Gustafson In Psalm 56 the writer is in a position of being under attack. He is crying out to God in his state, but at the same time is affirming God that his trust is in nothing but Him. In verse 4 the writer states, “In God I trust and am not afraid.” So often the things of this world put us into this state of fear, but really what is fear? When it comes down to it, fear is most of the time the things that make us feel uncomfortable, for example the fear of heights. The closer we get to the edge the more our fear grows, and the more trust we need to put in the things that are keeping us safe from falling off of the edge. In this psalm the psalmist is not writing about his fear of heights but rather him being attacked by those around him when he writes this verse. This is a good reminder for us as we live our day-to-day lives that if and when we are afraid that we need to put our trust in the one thing that conquers all. God. Today let us be the people of God trusting him with all, knowing that in Him we are safe and we are protected from fear and whatever else may come our way from the enemy. May we rejoice today in the presence of our Lord knowing that he has already taken the next step ahead of us leading us into the light of life. May we be a fearless people with whatever may stand in front of us this day knowing that in Him we do not have to be afraid. Most of all live this day knowing that you are loved and that he will protect you.

Father, thank you for your protection and for leading us into the light of life. I pray, Lord, that this day we would be fearless with whatever comes our way and that our complete trust would be in you and nothing else, knowing that you will take care of us. Thank you for being you. God. and may we praise you for no other reason than this. Amen.

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Sunday, February 24, 2013 Psalm 31:9-16 9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Devotion by: Brendan Butler The psalmist is worn out. He is physically and emotionally collapsing. The people he thought were his friends have turned away from him and plan his destruction. Injustice is at every corner. This must be a lot like how Jesus felt near the end of his life. The people of his time who were in charge hated him, and he sensed that things were only going to get worse. Those closest to him sold him out, fell asleep when they should have been on guard, and quickly deserted him when there was trouble. His friends were devout externally, but cowards internally. He was bitterly betrayed and left for dead. Both the psalmist and Jesus know that help cannot come from anyone around them. Likewise, looking inward to themselves and their own strength and resources fails to be a comfort, especially when faced with intense, real enemies. They cry out to the one God who saves. He has proven to have a salvific nature time and again and is not going to suddenly remove his steadfast love now. Through our choices to sin, we separate ourselves from God. We betray him often and plot evil through our pride, our idolatry, and our habitual justice-ignoring actions. I prioritize my own comfort, perceived security, wealth, and entertainment more than loving people, helping someone in need, or sacrificing anything I hold dear for the sake of another person’s benefit. Clearly I am often driven by an idol of my own making and not with God and what he says is important. We are like the enemies Christ faced. We, too, choose power over humility. We, too, don’t want our lives to be interrupted by Christ. We, too, squirm under the searing truth that calls us out and sees us as we actually are. We, too, work to maintain social hierarchies, of which we hope to ascend. We, too, sin and are in need of redemption. Yet God saves even us. Take comfort in Jesus’ words, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do”. In spite of our condemning actions, he chooses to forgive us and rescue us from ourselves. You cannot be your own savior any better than you can lift yourself off the ground by pulling up on your bootstraps. Salvation is only and always from the Lord.

Lord, Lord, I have been guilty of plotting evil against you instead of working for good. Please, forgive me. You alone can save me. I am powerless to rescue myself from the evil that surrounds me and need you to intervene. Save me in your mercy, and make your face shine on me once more. Thank you for your steadfast love for me and for the world. Amen.

Monday, February 25, 2013 Psalm 36:5-10 5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

Devotion by: Beth Glady As I read this passage in several different translations, I was drawn to the words describing God’s character. His love is steadfast, His faithfulness without end, His saving grace extends to the highest mountain and His justice to the greatest depths. It caused me to ask that if I believe this, then why do I so often find myself fretting about the future or about the current state of the world? Why do I rely on my own flawed character to determine my view and my course? Why do I insist on being the master of my life? Why do I not trust in God’s love for me and reflect God’s character to those whom He has placed around me. I need to take refuge under His wing and feast and drink on His promises that I may be secure in the life and love He has for me. It is only in His light that I can truly see what my life could and should be.

Lord, thank you for revealing who You are to us through your word. For Your unfailing love and unending extension of grace and justice. Help us to yield to Your desire that we should find refuge and strength in the shadow of Your wings. Help us to be equally faithful in extending love to You and to those around us. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to answer your call. In reliance on You we ask these things, Amen.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Psalm 70 1 Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, LORD, to help me. 2 May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame. 4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

Devotion by: Sarah Kelsey Psalm 70 reiterates the same words and phrases that David recorded at the end of Psalm 40. Without a doubt, David probably repeated this fervent prayer in his heart as he had many enemies seeking to harm him on account of his relationship with God. David has similarly written in previous Psalms about these enemies and their desire to put his faith to shame by killing him. However, his desperation is obviously not long-winded here in Psalm 70, suggesting that he may be in crisis or utterly worn down. In his desperation for God to “come quickly,” David does not hesitate to ask that his rescue come swiftly. Like all of us, his fragile condition on earth makes it perpetually necessary for him to cry to God for help. In the last line of Psalm 70, David reflects that his poverty is God’s wealth and his weakness is God’s strength. These conditions that David is experiencing both literally and figuratively keep him close to God. The desperate need for a savior in our hearts and in our world is constant, yet becomes even more evident as we prepare for the most sacrificial act of love of all time during Lent. As David experiences crisis, Jesus too experiences a devastating crisis of painfully enduring an undeserved, humiliating, public slaying amongst those whom he loves. Even God’s very son is not spared from crisis, enemies, poverty and suffering. It is arguably in our own experiences with crisis that our daily desperation for Jesus becomes most real and the veil is torn all over again. Though we may be like David and plead that the Lord come quickly, we may also take comfort when the Lord does not deliver within our definition of quick. Jesus is not a savior that merely pulls us out of our troubles in a simple transaction; He is a co-sufferer. Though we love a mighty God, and know that we are able to ask that the Lord come quickly, we also know heartbreak and rescue that is not necessarily considered quick. Just as David reminds us, “The Lord is great!” an emphasis on the goodness and trustworthy character of Jesus swiftly carries us to the sweet relief of a savior who humbles himself to walk into and alongside our brokenness.

Jesus, you are Lord of my life in crisis and in calm. The chaos in my life is not chaos to you, for nothing in my life is out of your control. Hold me far from my enemies so that my focus may be on you alone. Be with me in my suffering. Amen.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Psalm 71:1-18 1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. 5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. 9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” 12 Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

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Devotion by: Kelly Gray Psalm 71:1-18 Hope What initially strikes me upon reading this psalm is how David is so honest and open in crying out to God. There is a desperation in his words… he is earnest… yet there is much confidence as he affirms who is this God in which his hope lies. He shares testimony of his experience of God. Clearly from the context of the passage referring to enemies and those seeking to harm him, the writer has faced opposition. He is not speaking as one who has not suffered. Isn’t it easy to praise God when our circumstances are easy? Who is our faith really in when we don’t “need” God. I find it quite easy to transition to relying on myself, my blessings, the nice people in my life, when life goes the direction I want and expect. However, when it goes another direction, when we are stretched, overwhelmed, tested, we quickly realize that our strength, our lives, our friends, don’t make the cut. My strength would not go very far. Not far enough that I would want to put my faith or hope in it. In adversity, trial, challenge, our source of hope is surely revealed. And at that time the other things we are hoping in dissolve away. Only what is true remains. We can see God for who He is. Per the psalm.. our refuge, righteous, rock and fortress, hope and trust, praiseworthy, strength, full of glory, helper, mighty, powerful. This is our God. This is why we, like David, can rejoice in hope, regardless of circumstance. It seems impossible to those who would watch from afar. But once you experience hope… the hope that only comes in Christ… it is life changing. Life giving. Life altering. The Hope is your Life. It is Christ. Live in His Hope today.

Lord, we are so grateful to come to you. That we can cry out to you and you come near to us and incline your ear to hear us. What mercy we don’t understand. Thank you that we can cling to Hope. That we can be expectant as we trust in your faithfulness. You who are true to your promises. Help us to trust you. Would you open our eyes to see you that we might know you more. Amen

Thursday, February 28, 2013 Psalm 137:1-6 1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

Devotion by: Ro Martin This psalm is very poetical, and its opening lines have been set to music many times. The historical setting here is of the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. That meant that the southern kingdom of Judah, its capital, Jerusalem and its beloved temple, built by King Solomon, were destroyed. Along with this physical ruin came the death of their leaders and the destruction of the traditions and way of life they had known. The Jews learned the hard way and with much regret that they should have listened to the words and warnings of the prophets sent by God and turned from their idolatry. Now they find themselves living in a foreign land. The psalmist describes himself and his people in a forlorn and homesick state. They sit exiled on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Babylon. They know they are God’s chosen people but now find themselves in a foreign land, with no temple as a center of worship and in the midst of nonbelievers. And, to add insult to injury, their captors mocked them by demanding music and songs. They ask how could they possibly sing. They wept and hung their harps in the trees. The psalm then becomes a self-exhortation to remember Jerusalem forever. They are experiencing that sin and separation from God causes deep sorrow and misery. We can apply the early verses of this psalm to our own lives in that we often fail to value things until we no longer have them. An attitude of daily gratitude will help us notice the people, places and things that God gives us and uses in our lives to accomplish His purpose for us.

Lord, help me to stop every day and be grateful for my loved ones, my health and the faith you give me in You. Help me, too, to help others be grateful so that my whole community might be lifted up and stay faithful. Amen.

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Friday, March 1, 2013 Psalm 94 1 The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. 2 Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. 3 How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? 4 They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. 5 They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance. 6 They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. 7 They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” 8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? 10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? 11 The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. 12 Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law; 13 you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. 15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? 17 Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. 18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. 19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. 20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? 21 The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.

Devotion by: Ryan Twitchel This passage is a great reminder to rest in the Lord’s promises and his perfect judgment and timing. Although at first glance the words seem to be exclaimed with exasperation or annoyance at the arrogance and happiness of the “evildoers”, it is ultimately an authoritative claim yet humble surrender to the Lord and His perfect will. There are people doing evil, and opposing justice, but the God who designed our eyes and ears and gave them purpose will not be deaf or blind to the injustice imposed on His people. They will never be forgotten. Even when His believers turn to their own selfish pursuits, God’s correction in our lives is perfect and a blessing. The Lord’s calling in our lives is not to keep us from the things we enjoy, but to save us from the things that will destroy us. His discipline is life- saving, and unless we had heard of it, death was our only option and certainty in this world. During times when the world seems rallied against us, or problems seems to continue to mount in our lives, there is always perfect hope and faith in God’s plans for our future. There is nothing God cannot repair or protect us from; we need only to rely on Him, to live out a life devoted to Him, and rejoice when His perfect timing is fulfilled. Though we may not always find ourselves happy, we should always be counted as joyful. We have the best news ever written for us and planted in our hearts. Let us constantly tend to it with earnest prayer and devotion to His word so that it takes root and grows to encompass our whole lives.

Father, who created the universe, this world, and everything that lives in it, I all too often worry when I forget You are in control. Let me find rest and a peace that this world doesn’t understand when faced with conflict. Let me trust You with everything. Amen.

Saturday, March 2, 2013 Psalm 58 1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? 2 No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. 3 Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. 4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, 5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. 6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions! 7 Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short. 8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun. 9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns— whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away. 10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

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Devotion by: Logan & Alyssa Shidawara Psalm 58 In Psalm 58, the author is asking God to judge the wicked and unjust people who have hurt so many and gone astray. The psalmist is saying that the ungodly enemies should be accused. It appears that this is being addressed to the enemies of David, and in verse one, they are asked to justify their silence. As judges of the law, they were not defending what was right, and instead, they chose to be silent which was giving consent to the wrongdoings. The enemies, who sat as righteous judges, were deliberately sinning, and in their hearts they were guilty of evil, and their hands were spreading violence on earth. Because of man’s sin, they refused to hear reason and yet, carried destructive venom under their tongue. “Break the teeth in their mouths, O God”. Judgment should be sought from the judge, our God. The psalmist is asking God to destroy the wicked. How wonderful it is that we have a God who will do that, so that we do not have to! The wicked will be swept away, and the righteous shall rejoice, not in the spirit of revenge, but to see God’s mighty hand seek justice. “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth”. Praise the Lord that there is a reward for the righteous! Here are a few questions and thoughts to ponder from this passage. 1. When we have a chance to defend what is right and speak about our gracious Lord, do we sometimes choose to be silent? 2. Are we asking God to destroy the wicked, or do we, too, often take matters into our own hands? 3. David is praying to the Lord for justice. As followers of Christ, we should seek justice more and pray that the Lord’s hand would be in it always. Rejoice that we have a God who judges and will one day reward the righteous!

Our powerful God, how wonderful it is that you are a God who is just. I am thankful that the wicked will one day be swept away and the righteous will be rewarded. I give thanks that you love me, and I pray that you will use me so that others will come to know you and love you.

Sunday, March 3, 2013 Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. 16 Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. 17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

Devotion by: Katherine Gonzalez It often feels as though the world poses a deaf ear and blind eye towards our struggles, towards our pain. Yet, their eyes and ears burst open to our faults and weaknesses. Psalm 116’s discussion of God’s faithful presence coupled with our servitude offers us fulfillment and a wholesome relationship with God. The constancy and perennial nature of the Lord assuages the shortcomings of the world; the first two lines make the Lord’s devotion known. He always responds to our cries, His mercy is ever-flowing. His ears are never deaf to our cries, or His eyes blind to our challenges. But God’s grace does not imbue in us to remain stagnate, but acts as a catalyst. His mercy of us is undeserved: we did not earn it, but rejoice through acts of faithful servitude because of it. Pslam 116 not only pays homage to God’s fidelity to His people, but focuses on how we can fulfill our vows in serving the Lord with humility. In the question, “What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me,” Psalm 116 emphasizes that our vows, our promises, to serve the Lord faithfully be spoken and acted upon. Truly, a lifelong journey, but one that reaps the most rewarding and grace-filled relationship, one that lasts all tests of time. Best of all, through serving the Lord we are freed from our chains: a freedom which redirects our plans, goals, hopes, and disappointments away from the capricious and unpredictable world to the guaranteed care and devotion from the Lord. We are not bound to our earthly limitations, God reminds us in Psalm 116, but have a purpose that extends beyond our short years here. Psalm 116 reminds us of God’s dependable and merciful nature, and of His precious regard for us.

Lord, during this Lent season, please remind us that we are not chained to our earthly concerns and struggles, but are freed by You. Help guide us to better serve You, and just like Psalm 116 tells us, to call on Your name and fulfill our lifelong vows to you. Amen.

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Monday, March 4, 2013 Psalm 17 1 Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips .2 Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. 6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me .10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. 13 Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. 14 By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Devotion by: Bianca DiCamillo One of my favorite things about Psalms is that you can really hear the depths of people’s souls crying out. The writers are constantly addressing God throughout their prayer. Psalm 17 is no different; David starts the Psalm by saying, “Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer – it does not come from deceitful lips” We can just hear how much David wants the Lord to hear, and consider him. David goes on to say how he is pure coming to the Lord. The Lord can search him and will find no evil, and David calls on the Lord (verse 6). He begins by asking to be in continued favor, “Keep me as the apple of your eye…” and then David begins to ask for protection. He is asking for protections against not just people but mortal enemies, who are all around him: just waiting to devour him. The people David is asking protection from are those who are living in this life for the instant satisfaction. Not for the life that Jesus died for us to have. David ends the Psalm expressing how he knows that someday he will be relieved of this life and that it will all be worth it when he sees the Lord. David’s hope, truth and life lie in that fact. When I first read this Psalm, I was overwhelmed and intimidated by how much David has it together – David is saying to the Lord that He can probe his heart and will find no evil. What a statement! As I read the Psalm again, I can see that David is writing from a place where he can really feel the Lord, they are on the same page. For me, those moments and times in my life are the best - I don’t want to let go of those, and I don’t think David does either.

Lord, thank you for those moments that your presence is so undeniable. Where I can really hear and feel alive with the Holy Spirit. Help me to remember those moments, and to hold into them. Help me to keep my focus on the life of eternity with you; not the life here and now. Thank you for sending Jesus to this earth so that we can have eternity. Lord keep me. Amen.

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Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Psalm 105 1 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. 7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, 9 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. 10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” 12 When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, 13 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: 15 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” 16 He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17 and he sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, 19 till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. 20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. 21 He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, 22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. 23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham. 24 The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, 25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness and made the land dark—for had they not rebelled against his words? 29 He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die. 30 Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers. 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32 He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land; 33 he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number; 35 they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. 36 Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood. 37 He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold and from among their tribes no one faltered. 38 Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.39 He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. 40 They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. 42 For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. 43 He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; 44 he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—45 that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the LORD.

Devotion by: Katrina Montoya Since I was a young girl, the season of Lent always made me think of the desert due to the fact that each year, my Sunday School classes reread the story of Jesus going out into the wilderness to fast and be tempted by Satan. Thus, the weeks leading up to Easter have come to signify for me a time of wandering and contemplating. My life, and I suspect the lives of others, has wandered into desert places and become parched, and lifeless from time to time. For this reason, Psalm 105 speaks so clearly to the promises of Lent and Easter; it is a guide for our response to our own wanderings in the desert places of our lives because it reminds us that the Lord always shows up, often in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Jesus experienced this desolation too, which makes him such a compassionate savior. He begged in Gethsemane to have his fate pass over him, and even cried out from the cross “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Someone much wiser than me pointed out that Jesus utters this cry so that we never have to. Despite this truth, we often cry out to God, mistaking God’s refusal to conform to our will with his abandonment of us. Nothing has made this clearer to me than cooking with my daughter underfoot. One night she begged for a bite of the sweet potato I was chopping but didn’t understand how horrible it would be raw. After I drizzled it with oil, sprinkled on spices, and baked it, it became so much better than when she demanded it. She pushed, begged, and cried at my feet. I didn’t forsake her; I just had something richer for her if she could just trust me when I tell her that. The challenge of Lent is to remember the same is true of the Lord as articulated in the promise and hope of Psalm 105:8: “He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.” Even when God doesn’t jump when we beg him, he is still working through his covenant of redemption. On both good days, and days when it seems impossible, the first and final commands of the opening verses are the most necessary for us to live by: “O give thanks to the Lord” (v. 1) and “Remember” (v. 5).

Dear God, your redemption has been spreading through the world since the days of Abraham, leading us to your ultimate act of love on the cross. Thank you for including us in this story, and please help us to remember your grace for us and keep us thankful for the desert places in our lives where you show up. Amen.

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Psalm 53 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. .2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. 6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Devotion by: Will & Molly Odell In Psalm 53 David is explaining how mankind is inherently evil, meaning that it is in our GENES!! This excludes no human being, and the affects entangle each and every one of us. C.H. Spurgeon explains this Psalm as “The Song of Man’s Disease”. David is showing us that no one is excluded from the corruption sin brings into our lives. Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. These are strong, though provoking words. These are convicting words to reflect on as we consider how special and important the gift of salvation is that was given to us by God’s Grace. We should be in awe of His Grace towards us. When thinking of Lent, many of us think of it as a period of time to refrain from some habit or a time in which to practice self- denial or the act of giving something up, i.e chocolate. We considered some practical applications to this scripture when looking at Lent from our culture’s point of view. What can we give up in order to be more in tune with the scripture in Psalm 53?

1. Pride: Remember that we are nothing without a savior. We have done no better than anyone else. We must realize that we no more deserve the Grace of God than the next man or woman. 2. Self Righteousness: We have no right to Christ, yet he gave us the gift of grace. We are essentially in the same boat as all other human beings on this planet. We must realize that there are none righteous and that the Grace of God is sufficient for ALL. 3. Judgmental Attitudes: Who are we to judge anyone! No matter what beliefs we hold as individuals, we are all corrupt and we are all tainted by sin. Therefore, no one really does good but it is by the grace of God that he sent his son to die for us to forgive us for the atrocities characteristic of man. We all must seek God with the help of the Holy Spirit.

God, we pray that our hearts would be searching for you. We want to be seeking you and despite our tendency as men and women to be attracted to our evil roots, we want you to forgive us, and give us the strength to orient our hearts and minds in the direction of your grace and love. We pray that the Holy Spirit might be doing new and amazing things in us and that we would die to ourselves and receive your grace as a remedy for our sinful nature. We pray for and are willing to accept change in our lives. Amen.

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Thursday, March 7, 2013 Psalm 20 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. 6 Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Devotion by: Michael Thrall Do you feel like you need a victory? Just one success, a win, to ease the pressures and burdens of your life? We all are aware that our lives, careers, and circumstances operate in a distressed world. The challenges we face oftentimes leave us like Job, burdened and worn thin, scraping at our sores with broken pottery. Unfortunately, there is oftentimes little reprieve as our circumstances worsen and grief weighs heavier. Do you ever feel like God does not answer you when you’re distressed or grant you a victory with His Mighty Right Hand? It is in times like these that the Psalmist points us to something we may be missing in our times of need: One another. Notice, the Psalm moves from speaking in a singular tense about an individual, yet progresses into a plural, communal context. You have desires and requests, but we rise up and stand firm, and we call on the Lord. On Mother’s Day in 2011, I witnessed a group of women from a church in Ensenada, Mexico give makeovers to mothers working in the Red Light District of Ensenada. All the women in the District were prostitutes. Most were crying. Tears filled in the scar holes and rolled over the swollen welts courtesy of angry men who were never loved by their fathers or hugged by their mothers. To say that these women were “distressed” would be a gross understatement. They were without victory. So when the prostitutes in distress needed Jesus, needed a victory, who did Jesus send? His people. The women of the Church were unequivocally Christ to the broken women on the street. You and I are on equal standing. The same Spirit that freed the prostitute at Christ’s feet is in you and me (Romans 8:11). Today, Christ gives us one another to love and be Jesus to the World (John 13:33-34). If you need Christ today, find someone who desires to be Him to you. In the same way, we operate in a world crying for our Savior’s love. There is always the opportunity for us to be that love to our world. Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. - Teresa of Avila

Dear Jesus, Thank you for your Spirit. Thank you for giving yourself as a gift to us so that we may be you to one another. We ask that you would make me one piece of a community of Disciples who love well and receive your love from those around us. Show us how to be filled with you and pour out that love to those around us. Amen.

Friday, March 8, 2013 Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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Devotion by: Stephanie Esparza Psalm 46 Fear has the power to control and manipulate your every thought, action, and word. And yet, time and time again I find myself living within the shackles of fear. The Bible is filled with commands from the Lord, “Do not fear”, “Don’t be afraid”, “Fear not”, and yet we do it over and over again. Psalm 46 speaks to our fearful hearts. God is our refuge and our strength. He is ever-present in our trouble. Even if the “mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” and “its waters roar and foam”, HE is present, and we will not fall. What a promise!! God never withdraws himself from those living in fear and distress. He is at your side, more present than a friend or family member can be. As we seek to conquer fear, realize that there are idols that will provide a false sense of security. What are these idols for you? Charles Spurgeon says, “All other refuges are refuges of lies, all other strength is weakness, for power belongeth unto God: but as God is all sufficient, our defense and might are equal to all emergencies.” Remember friends, God is present and he is trustworthy. WE WILL NOT FEAR.

Lord, thank you that you are a God who is ever-present. I pray that you would quiet our fearful hearts. Help us to search our hearts and convict us where there is fear or lack of trust. Enable us to enjoy the peace that comes with trusting and abiding in you. Amen.

Saturday, March 9, 2013 Psalm 25 1 In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. 2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. 4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good .8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. 13 They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. 18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Devotion by: Lauren Collins In this Psalm, David is pleading with the Lord for His guidance and protection. We read of honest and humble emotions that cry out to our God for help. There is no shame in waiting for the Lord. Often in our world, waiting is seen as a negative thing. We value efficiency and instant gratification. Many times, we simply lack patience. But David challenges us to look at waiting in a different way. In verses 3-5, he states there is no shame in waiting for the Lord. David asks the Lord to make His ways known and trusts that the Lord would put him on His path. In what areas of your life do you need to wait for the Lord? When waiting in life, we can easily become distracted. We desire to wait on the Lord, but often our focus shifts to the world around us. In verse 15, David says his eyes are continually toward the Lord. The word “continually” provides us with a challenge. How often in our day-to-day lives do we even look to God? David communicates to us that he is constantly looking to God. What would your life look like if you continually looked to God? What would our world look like?

Heavenly Father, please create in us a heart that would desire to wait for You. Please be patient with us when we are not diligent in seeking You. Thank you for being a God who listens to the cries of our hearts and answers us. Amen.

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Sunday, March 10, 2013 Psalm 7 1 LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 2 or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. 3 LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands— 4 if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe— 5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. 6 Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. 7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. 8Let the LORD judge the peoples. Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. 9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. 10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. 12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. 13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows. 14 Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. 15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. 16 The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. 17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

Devotion by: Graci Armendariz To be pursued is a scary idea. The dictionary defines pursuit as an effort to secure or attain; a quest. Criminals are pursued by law enforcement. Victims are pursued by their attackers. Relationships also can be a pursuit. And everyday, we are pursued by both a Lover and enemy of our soul. David is very familiar with the idea of being pursued. He says “I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me…” (v.1). Here, he is talking about his enemies and displays complete trust and reliance on the power of God to save him. Later in the psalm David exhibits a humble mind and spirit by asking God to release his enemies upon him if he is at fault. Humility will always give God a starting point to work in your life. Proverbs 22:4 states, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” David also displays his knowledge and fear of the Lord’s power to both heal and destroy. He remembers who God is, not only in his own life but also in the life of all of God's creations. He humbly, but boldly asks for God’s help, because he knows that God can handle everything he cannot. Pride, evil, and unrighteousness are all self-destructive. “14 Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. 15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.” We will always be disappointed in our lives if we let evil and pride in. Pride gives the enemy an easy pursuit, an easy foothold into our lives. Humility in realizing our own weakness and confidence in the power and love of our God is the first step in accepting the love and compassion we’ve been given. Who will you allow to overcome you in this ultimate pursuit, this ultimate quest to win over your soul? During this time of Lent, may we soften our hearts to accept anew the grace we’ve been freely given.

Lord, during this time of Lent when we are pursued and led astray by distractions that vie for our affection, let us take refuge in you. Humble us to see when our minds and hearts are beginning to wander, and gently lead us back to You. Amen.

Monday, March 11, 2013 Psalm 28 1 To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. 4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve. 5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again. 6 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Page #23

Devotion by: Ben & Sarah Van Holland Psalm 28 Have you ever felt so exhausted that the only thing you could think about or even do was to lie on the floor and just… breathe? It could have been from exercising, or moving, or any number of things really, but just totally and utterly tired. Spent. When meditating on this passage, I get the feeling that the psalmist isn’t energetic and full of life, just the opposite in fact. I see a writer who is feeble and broken, someone who has been pushed to the end of his rope, ready to give up. We see this at the beginning of the verse when the author cries out for mercy. I find it the most comforting when he says, “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.” I know I’ve had days where I’ve felt like that; Like I didn’t know what to do, how to pray or how to feel about things. It almost feels like the world is coming down right on top of you, squishing the wind from your lungs. It’s in those moments that Jesus wants us to cry out to Him, and remember that He’s been walking alongside us the whole time. Whether we’ve realized it or not. This passage reminds us that we serve a good and faithful God, who’s perspective is greater and higher than ours. All we need to do is look up to him for guidance and direction, to cast our view away from our circumstance and onto the Creator. Sometimes, the best place to be is on the floor just… breathing and praying.

God, I pray and ask that you would help me be sensitive to your presence; to know and understand that you walk alongside me, and have good plans for me. I place my trust and faith in you, knowing that your perspective is much larger than mine. I know you alone are God, that you alone are what my soul cries out for. Please pick me up out of the dirt when I fall down, and dust me off. Lord, my soul cries out for you, like a man in the desert cries out for water. Would you show up today, in the normal stuff that’s going on, please let me see you. I love you, thank you for everything you have done and are doing for me. Please show me see how I can better serve and love you. Amen

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013 Psalm 40 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” 9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. 10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. 11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. 13 Be pleased to save me, LORD; come quickly, LORD, to help me .14 May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha! be appalled at their own shame. 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 17 But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

Devotion by: Shey Parise When he was experiencing trials at the hands of his enemies, the answer did not come immediately when the psalmist, David, cried out to the Lord. He waited and God worked. Waiting for God is not easy, but David, in Psalm 40, shows us how he was transformed by the power of God. He was lifted out of the pit of despair, God set his feet on solid ground, God steadied him as he walked, and He put a new song in his mouth. While the specifics of this Psalm are not known; we do know that David asked for rescue from a hole dug by his own sin (see 40:12). What do you do when the results of your sin deliver you into a “slimy pit”? Where do you go for relief from “the mud and mire” of self-inflicted wounds? Sometimes our pride or ignorance or misunderstanding (or all of the above) causes us to assume that God will not assist us in difficult situations of our own making. We hear God saying, “You made your bed; now lie in it.” But God is not the one who causes those words to rattle in our heads. Even when our backs are turned on him; he turns to us and waits. How patient is Our Father! Even when we distance ourselves; he still hears our cry for help. Our Father responds to the needs of his children. He lifts us out of sin’s slippery places and puts us on a rock of forgiveness and restoration so that we can stand firm. He replaces our cries for help with a new song, a “hymn of praise.” As Bono of U2 asks in the song 40, “How long to sing this song?” ……For God, it’s never-ending.

Lord, my sin is endless, and your forgiveness is generous. Forgive me for my pride, ignorance, misunderstanding and impatience. I am in need of a savior. Continue to restore in me a new song so that many will see and hear of your goodness. For you, Lord, are patient and faithful. Amen

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 Psalm 52 1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! 5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. 6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, 7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” 8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. 9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Page #25

Devotion by: Jack, Jody, & Scotty Milam Psalm 52 The “You” David refers to in this Psalm is a murderer, a betrayer, and a very evil man. He killed eighty-five priests, and then went on to murder all the inhabitants of a town (men, women, children, and infants). David is livid with him. Furious at his evil heart, and evil deeds. “Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin.” We can have a sense of David’s anger today as we see all the injustices of the world – school shootings, genocide, oppression. As we come to know the Lord, he gives us a sense of justice and the desire to make things right. But sometimes, we want to see the vengeance and the consequences for their actions now. We want to see them pay for their sins. But we are called to be different. David understood that the vengeance in his heart was not necessary. In his anger, he simply praised the Lord knowing that he follows a faithful God who is just. A righteous King who will come to judge the quick and the dead. Giving up his need for immediate judgment, David stopped and prayed. He chose to fast from that strong, emotional need; an inner desire to make people pay for their wrongdoing. What if we were to choose to fast from such a need as well? Moving away from vengeance and judgment and into trust and praise. Then, maybe we could even go one step further, and try to fast from injustice as well. Choosing to live our lives in a way that no longer reflects the hate, oppression, and violence that we see in our world; but instead we reflect the One who has saved us and given us eternal life. And in that… All we can do is give praise. “I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.”

Abba Father, your goodness far exceeds my understanding. I'm not worthy of any of your goodness, and yet you choose to bless me anyways. Remove any vengeance or anger in my heart, and humble me, so that I can see an accurate understanding of myself. Open my eyes to the wickedness in my heart and have mercy on me, a sinner. For you are all that is good, and merciful, and righteous; I don’t deserve to even eat the scraps off the ground, but you invite me to sit next to you at an eternal meal. And for that, I am desperately grateful. Amen.

Thursday, March 14, 2013 Psalm 143 1 LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. 7 Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11 For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Devotion by: Aaron Tracy Have you ever felt so exhausted that the only thing you could think about or even do was to lie on the floor and just… breathe? It could have been from exercising, or moving, or any number of things really, but just totally and utterly tired. Spent. When meditating on this passage, I get the feeling that the psalmist isn’t energetic and full of life, just the opposite in fact. I see a writer who is feeble and broken, someone who has been pushed to the end of his rope, ready to give up. We see this at the beginning of the verse when the author cries out for mercy. I find it the most comforting when he says, “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.” I know I’ve had days where I’ve felt like that; Like I didn’t know what to do, how to pray or how to feel about things. It almost feels like the world is coming down right on top of you, squishing the wind from your lungs. It’s in those moments that Jesus wants us to cry out to Him, and remember that He’s been walking alongside us the whole time. Whether we’ve realized it or not. This passage reminds us that we serve a good and faithful God, who’s perspective is greater and higher than ours. All we need to do is look up to him for guidance and direction, to cast our view away from our circumstance and onto the Creator. Sometimes, the best place to be is on the floor just… breathing and praying.

God, I pray and ask that you would help me be sensitive to your presence; to know and understand that you walk alongside me, and have good plans for me. I place my trust and faith in you, knowing that your perspective is much larger than mine. I know you alone are Good, that you alone are what my soul cries out for. Please pick me up out of the dirt when I fall down, and dust me off. Lord, my soul cries out for you, like a man in the desert cries out for water. Would you show up today, in the normal stuff that’s going on, please let me see you. I love you, thank you for everything you have done and are doing for me. Please show me see how I can better serve and love you. Amen Page #26

Friday, March 15, 2013 Psalm 66 1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 2Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. 4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.” 5 Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! 6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—come, let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against him.

8 Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10 For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. 13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you 14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. 15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. 16 Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Devotion by: Dawn Nassise All of creation cries out with the glory of God. God is evident in every part and particle of His creation. We stand in awe of the work of His hands. In the flurry of creation, He chose to make us in His image. In the image of the Holy Spirit and of His Son, Jesus Christ, He made you and me. God's love for us is so deep and so wide that we cannot fathom it. We have trouble imagining unconditional, eternal love. In loving us He provides. His provision includes shaping and forming us. We are refined by the hardships and difficulties that we face. Flaws in our character come out when we are tested. God uses these to work within us, to grow us spiritually. As we are corrected in our behavior, we gain understanding of the "right" relationship that God wants us to have with Him. The Israelites saw God’s trials and provisions daily as they wandered the desert for forty long years. But the Promised Land was their reward for continued faithfulness, even after they sinned and turned from God, He continued to provide for His people and to show them the way. He was guiding them literally with a pillar of smoke in the daytime and a pillar of fire at night. Bringing the people out of slavery and physically guiding them is something that most of us will not experience in our lifetimes. We do, however, see God releasing us from the bondage of our sins and restoring us time and time again. We stand in awe of God's provision over us. Full of loving-kindness and abounding in power, our God is a God who shows Himself not just in His creation, but in His created. We reflect His glory. Walk worthy.

Thank you, Lord, that You make Yourself known throughout all of Your creation. Your provision over Your beloved transcends generations. As You did with the Israelites, through Your testing You bring us to a place of refinement and abundance. To You be all praise and glory, honor and majesty. Amen

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Saturday, March 16, 2013 Psalm 130 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; 2Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Devotion by: Lindsay Lavery Anxiously you try to hold everything around you together as it seems to effortlessly fall apart. The harder you try to relieve your concerns and fears, the heavier the weight you carry becomes. You feel helpless, hopeless and alone. In these desperate moments when we’ve reached the end of ourselves, we, like the Psalmist, no longer have any choice but to cry out to God. So why is it so difficult for us to surrender and put our trust in God? Maybe we are becoming numb to the Gospel. The phrase, “Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins,” becomes words we say and no longer stirs reverence, awe, or fear in our hearts. We understand in theory about Jesus’ unfailing love, unending mercy or relentless pursuit to redeem us, yet we don’t let that effect the way we live our lives. We forget to bow in humility knowing we’ve deserved nothing and gained everything. We trust in the final redemption for eternal life but often forget that the redemption process starts now. His desire is to make you whole by redeeming your very life from all shame, hurt and brokenness. There are no shortcuts in this process. We cannot speed up God’s timing or the journey He’s taking us on. We are simply asked to watch, wait and trust. Confidently, we expect the sun to rise every morning. In the same way, we are asked to trust that the Lord is good. He will never leave or abandon us. He is for us, so who can be against us? He will give us a peace that surpasses understanding. When you cannot see God working and feel anxiety and fear start welling up, remember what Jesus has already done on the cross. You are free from death, sin, guilt and shame. Remember God is full of unfailing love and endless mercy. Because we are being redeemed, we stop seeing only the darkness and start looking to the horizon to watch and wait confidently for morning. Focus your eyes back on Jesus and allow your heart to be in awe of Him, rediscovering the reverence that you had forgotten.

Lord, help me to see you more fully. My picture of you is too small, and I’m too big. I confess that I let situations overwhelm me and let anxiety and fear rule my mind. How quickly I forget that with you there is victory. Help me to trust in your goodness, love and mercy in all circumstances. Thank you, that no matter what the outcome is, with you, I can stand. Amen.

Sunday, March 17, 2013 Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

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Devotion by: Josh Carlson Psalm 23 Psalm 23 has been required reading and memorization for as long as I can remember, dating back to my early days of Sunday school. As with most scriptures, I was taught early on, they were but words I memorized, but never really felt a practical application or a deeper connection. I was reminded often that "God was my good Shepherd" and "He would make me lie down in Green Pastures"- but to me that was not exciting and actually kind of weird because shepherds wore weird clothes on all the felt boards I had seen, and I hated when anyone would make me "lie down" to take a nap! Now a few years removed from that time, I must admit I long for the joy of an afternoon free to nap. When it came time to study this scripture for Lent, two passages that stood out to me were: "He restores my soul" (v3) and "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me"(v4). Everything up until "He restores my soul" in this Psalm could be a literal translation between real sheep and their shepherd, but when the word "Soul" is referenced, the psalm becomes alive with levels beyond the surface of our physical world. The human soul is something of a mystery, and many in different levels of spiritual thought see it as eternal. Some would argue that the Soul is our very nature and life source, once breathed into existence by the eternal breath of God. C.S. Lewis explains, "You don't have a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body.” Instead of giving you my opinion on what the psalmist was saying, I will instead list the translations from Hebrew for "restores my soul" and allow you to find its application for your life- which definition fits exactly what you currently need most from your shepherd, your Holy Eternal Father? Restores (Hebrew-Shub): return, turn back, bring back, refresh, repair. Soul (Hebrew- Nephesh): self, life, appetite, mind, desire, emotion, passion. The second passage that I never really pondered until now is, "your rod and your staff, they comfort me". When I realized this psalm was written by a Jewish King who knew the history of his people; I thought more about the words “Rod and Staff”. Most know David was or had been a shepherd, and this entire psalm was quite obviously a picture of the Shepherd's relationship to his sheep, so referencing these two items would be normal. However, a shepherd was not the job of every man at that time, and yet the use of "Rod and Staff" to comfort could possibly resonate on a much deeper level to every child of Israel that knew of his/her history. It was the "Staff of Moses" that was raised into the air, parting the Red Sea and allowing the Israelites to finally escape the enslavement of Pharaoh (Ex. 14). It was the same Staff that Moses struck against the rock, causing water to flow when the Israelites were in desperate need to survive (Ex. 17). When the Children of Israel sought wisdom for who should lead them, it was the Rod of Aaron that budded into flowers as a confirmation from the Lord (Numbers 17), and it could have been that same Rod that Moses lifted in his arms during the battle in which the Israelites defeated the Amalekites (Ex. 17). With these four examples, most Israelites hearing this statement in the psalm would be reminded of those great moments of escape, freedom, wisdom, survival, and victory - a level of comfort and security that covers almost every area of one’s life.

Monday, March 18, 2013 Psalm 30 1 I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. 3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. 4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 6 When I felt secure, I said, I will never be shaken.” 7 LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?” Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.” 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

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Devotion by: Tom Parker Psalm 30 On January 15, 2009 Captain Sullenberger found himself flying an Airbus 320 with engines that had just become completely disabled, and in less than three minutes he landed the plane on the Hudson River. (If you haven’t seen it, go to You Tube, pretty amazing.) His calm and competent actions resulted in 155 passengers and crew escaping unharmed. Undoubtedly, there are a 154 passengers, along with a 155 families (including Sully’s), who will be forever grateful to him. The result of that landing was instant adulation of Captain Sully. He was extolled, exalted, and praised for his quick thinking and acting. (Now how often do you use words like adulation, extol, or exalt? But don’t you think those words are necessary in this case?) The Psalmist is much like one of the passengers of that flight. He is thrilled, relieved, ecstatic, grateful beyond belief, and ready to tell everyone, especially God, how great God is. The author of our Psalm, like the passengers on the flight, was on his way down to the deep, ready to sink into a pit, destined for Sheol (aka death or the Netherworld). And yet this did not happen. Our Psalmist went from good to bad to good. And we learn this from his prayer. Life was good for our friend, prosperous and stable (vv 6, 7). But then the floor falls out from underneath him, and his prayer life becomes engaged with God in a new way (vv 2, 8, 9, 10). He cries out, he begs and he bargains with God. And the best of all things happened - the reversal is reversed (vv 3, 5, 11). So the logical thing happens; the psalmist gives credit where credit is due. He tells God and he tells God’s faithful people (aka the saints) what God has done. He is and will be bragging about God, and no one is going to shut him up. What about you, has God ever saved your skin? What stories do your friends tell of God rescuing them? Today is a good day to remember those stories, to tell God how good he is, and to tell others, too, about your (our) awesome God.

God what you have done for us through your son Jesus amazes us. Thank you. Thank you for rescuing us before we knew that we were in trouble. Thank you for the ways you have clearly acted in our lives. Help us to notice, to remember, and to brag on you to you and to others. Amen.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Psalm 59 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me. 2 Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood.3 See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD. 4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! 5 You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. 6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. 7 See what they spew from their mouths—the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” 8 But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations. 9 You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, 10my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. 11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. 12 For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, 13consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. 14 They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. 15 They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. 17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

Devotion by: cathy graff In Psalm 59, the writer faces a dire threat. Seeing enemies all around, his only hope is in God’s deliverance. The psalmist is being persecuted by ruthless, wicked enemies. Unprincipled oppressors, they plot and lie in wait ready to attack. They are like mongrels growling and prowling the streets in packs, insatiable, ruthless, and bloodthirsty. The words that spew from their mouths are weapons that destroy as well. The slander they speak destroys a good man. Yet in their prideful behavior, they sow the seed of their own judgment. The sins of their mouths, their curses and lies will consume them before the God of Jacob. The psalmist cries out to God: deliver me, save me, see my plight, be my strength, my fortress. Go before me as my protector, for I committed no wrong, LORD. The psalmist progresses from pleading to be saved to watching for God on whom he relies to singing of God’s love and deliverance in times of trouble. Three thoughts come to mind in reading this psalm during Lent. First, it is not hard to see Jesus in the cries of the psalmist. He committed no offense or sin, yet faced the conspiracy and slander of bloodthirsty plotters who would do anything to get rid of the man threatening their power. Their wickedness would have no bounds -- they would snarl, howl, and prowl until they saw his lifeless body hanging on the cross. Second, during Lent, we may turn within and be heartbroken to see that we are the self-centered, fierce men who turn against our Lord. The words that come out of our mouths cut others like swords. Our greed leaves others in great need. Our pride leads us to thoughtless actions that create pain and devastation in our wake. This psalm can bring us to our knees in repentance, begging for God’s mercy and saving grace. Third, out of God’s great love and redemption, we can share the psalmist’s plea. Should we be in a place where we are being persecuted, we can pray these words, crying out for deliverance and giving praise that He and only He is our fortress, the God on whom we can rely.

Gracious God, make me every mindful of my actions that I might come to my knees before you in repentance and gratitude. I give thanks for your merciful love through the gift of Jesus Christ and pray that others might know your love through my words and actions. Amen.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013 Psalm 145 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy . 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.

Devotion by: Tom Parker I had a teacher in high school who always spoke kindly to me and to everyone else. He always saw the positive in people and spoke in a way that always made them feel better. Today’s Psalm is like my teacher. The Psalmist just speaks good and true words about God, about the Lord, about the King of all Creation. Not only does he praise the Lord, he tells us that this will be a habit of his and that God deserves to be praised. This praise is so important that it needs to be passed down from the older to the younger, from one generation to the next. We learn that the praise of God is to be, by its very nature, out loud and spoken about to others. And God isn’t praised like we praise those who have great teeth and are good looking, but God is praised because he has done things and said things that demonstrate how good he is. In Exodus 34:6, the Lord tells Moses something about himself and the Psalmist remembers and quotes the Lord (v 8). And the Psalmist has in mind actions of God that match the Lord’s words. These are some of the mighty deeds that the Psalmist would be aware of: The Lord spoke the world into being; God formed and fashioned the man and the woman; the Lord rescued the people of Israel from the slavery they lived under in Egypt. The Lord did many other things written about in the Old Testament history books, from Genesis to Kings. Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther have great stories about God’s acts, too. And God’s character is detailed in the way he deals with people (vv 14-20). Who wouldn’t want to know the Lord, right? And who wouldn’t want to talk about him to others?

God, when we slow down and think about the wonders of this world that you created…When we ponder how you have constantly pursued us…How you came willingly to us to bring us back to you…When we think of how you care for those in need, for those who cry out to you…It is then we want to speak the truth to you and tell you and others how great you are. Amen.

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Thursday, March 21, 2013 Psalm 48 1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. 3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. 4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 5 they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. 6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. 7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. 9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. 14 For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Devotion by: Tony Montoya In Psalm 48 the City of Zion is extolled as the city of the Great King. It is a comforting reminder of being hemmed in on all sides by a protective rampart, buttressing all attacks and threats. “God is in her citadel, he has shown himself to be her fortress” (v.3). The message of the psalm is solidified in verse 8, “As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever.” God is our security; from enemies, the failings of our friends, the demands we place on ourselves, and from the memories of the rug being yanked out from under us. It is this security that leads to gladness, praise, and relief. We no longer have to stand in shifting sand and rely on our own attempts to build a fortress around ourselves. We can breathe in peace because God is in the Citadel with us, at the walls protecting us, and our enemies whether they are physical, spiritual, or emotional “saw and were astounded; they fled in terror” (v.5). God has and will protect us and defend us. He will protect you in the places you feel most insecure. He will heal the years, and as he is in the habit of doing, he will restore you.

Lord, you are a mighty fortress and protector of our lives. You are a protector that is stronger than any foe we face. Forgive us when we build a fortress that only guards us from knowing your protection. Remind us to look on your powerful and comforting fortress and “consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that [we] may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever” (v.13-14). Amen.

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Friday, March 22, 2013 Psalm 29 1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Devotion by: Polly Bonnett Thunderstorms in the desert are rare, and maybe in being so, all the more striking when we witness them. Psalm 29 uses the powerful imagery of a storm to communicate GOD’s authority over creation and to demonstrate His glory – a reality that should prompt those in heaven and on earth to acknowledge His sovereignty and to worship GOD who is “enthroned as King forever.” We all, most likely, have experienced a storm of sorts as a result of life on this earth…and I’m not sure if I always remind myself of GOD’s authority over my storm. I often want Him to stop the storm, rescue me from it, or divert it; however, it is an opportunity for us (and all creation) to see His glory revealed. While this Psalm is not directly speaking of the ‘storms of life’, it does give readers a glimpse of His presence through these mighty displays in nature. This Psalm was intended to call its readers and the people of Israel to reflect on and praise GOD for who He is, to “ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.” It’s a reminder for us that we need not fear, we have a mighty GOD, and we have a loving GOD that ‘blesses his people with peace’. This same GOD who’s voice is ‘powerful’ and ‘majestic’ (v. 4) can also be heard as a ‘gentle whisper’ (1 Kings 19:12), he provides us many ways to know Him which reveals the creativity and love of our Creator. If you are going through your own storm in life, or could possibly use a reminder of GOD’s glory, take comfort in this Psalm. HE is our peace in the midst of our circumstances and gives us strength as a blessing. It is a reminder that I needed, and showed me again that GOD provides and is faithful. And while we may take comfort in a forecast, only GOD can control the outcome.

Dear Heavenly Father, You have made yourself evident to all man through creation, and we are meant to worship you. Open my eyes to your majesty and give me a heart of praise. All strength and peace come from you; help me to receive this blessing with gratitude. Amen.

Saturday, March 23, 2013 Psalm 118:19-26 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Devotion by: Ed Glady The cornerstone referenced in Verse 22 was the first and most important part of any ancient structure. From it all other stones of a building’s foundation were measured and placed. And on top of the foundation, all other stones of a structure were laid. A poorly shaped or placed cornerstone meant a structure’s eventual downfall. It is no small irony that these verses prophesy the human rejection of a “stone” that subsequently becomes the foundational cornerstone of all human salvation. And on the foundation built around this cornerstone is constructed a gate so that the righteous may find an entrance into the house of God, an entrance made possible by the sacrifice of the cross. Have you ever sought to gain entrance somewhere only to find the way locked? How grateful have you been when a key is produced? These verses from Psalm 118 speak of great joy for a gate now open to those who are righteous, those who follow the way set out by God. The author of this Psalm speaks for all of us when writing of our deep desire to find redemption and of our unbounded joy that God reached out to us through His Son and on Easter morning opened the gate to His Kingdom. The way is no longer locked. It is a new day made by God, as is every day that follows. The Lord has done this marvelous thing, how can we not rejoice and be glad! And with songs of praise and thanksgiving in our hearts, we must reach out to others so that they might find their way to the gate, and bless all who come in the name of the Lord, as well as be a blessing from the house of God to all we encounter. God be praised!

Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of Jesus, who by his sacrifice on the cross became a cornerstone by which Your righteousness guides our lives and on which You built a gate for entry into Your Kingdom. Let our hearts rejoice at this gift each new day. Amen.

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Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013 Psalm 8 1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Devotion by: Johnny Corcoran This psalmist is singing these verses out to the Lord as he contemplates the night sky, its beauty and magnitude. David can't but deny opening with praise to the Lord, singing, "Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth." David is blown away at the fact that God would entrust us to glorify Him and silence the enemy. He is amazed that His glory shines through our sinfulness. He chooses children, the weakest of men, us. He chooses us and considers us worthy of his work and praise. He calls us to have child like faith, for children trust and praise God without doubt and reservations. We lost our domain over earth when sin entered the world, but the good news is that Christ came to redeem us. Portions of Psalm 8 refer to Jesus in the New Testament; Jesus fulfills our destiny in Psalm 8; He is our ultimate savior. Today is Palm Sunday, Passion Sunday, the start of Holy Week. A day Christians celebrate the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. Jesus was greeted into Jerusalem by the waving of palm branches, representing peace, and covering the ground he walked on. Today He begins his journey to the cross. This season of Lent is our preparation for Easter; to reflect on Christ, his suffering, sacrifice, life, burial and most importantly his resurrection. We get a feeling of being incredibly small when we stare into space. To feel small, however, is a healthy way to live, but to dwell in our smallness is of the enemy. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. God created us a little lower than angels, He considers us highly valuable. When you begin to question your self-worth, remember we are worthy because we bear the stamp of the Creator. We are worthy to God; he makes that clear in this passage, we are free from our feelings of worthlessness. David ends with how he begins, how we should start and end our day, with praise to the Father, "Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth."

Lord of the universe, I pray you instill in me a sense of how small I am and how big you are. Let me walk in confidence and feel worthy that you have chosen me to carry out your Gospel, for you are able to bring strength to the weak. Let me always live in thankfulness and praise to you. Amen

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Holy Week Monday, March 25, 2013 Psalm 34 1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Devotion by: Scott & Amy Donnell This Psalm is a crazy one. Why? Well, for starters, David wrote it as a reflection of the time when he was taken before King Abimelech (the King of the Philistines). Because he didn't want to look like a spy, he tried to make himself look like a madman before the King so they would dismiss him from the court. He went into epileptic fits and was given a free pass home. This Psalm is a praise for God’s deliverance, as well as instruction for how to respond to God’s provision. David begins with a hymn of praise for how God rescued him. As we reflect on our lives, we should all start with a posture of praise. Where in your journey have you seen God’s hand clearly at work? What can you praise him for? At what points did God clearly rescue you? From a relationship, a job, stress, loneliness, loss. Where are the “whoa, thank God for that” moments? God battles for us to bring us out of destruction—he “slays enemies” and “delivers,” “protects” and “rescues” his people. There is a war going on, and God has been fighting for you all along. Our response, like David’s, should be praise. And praise breeds joy: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” But David doesn't stop there—true praise leads to action. Our Lord is near to the brokenhearted (v 18), and we should be, too. As believers, we should embrace the call to care for the orphans and widows in distress around us. Who are we reaching out to in our city? Who is “crushed in spirit?” Who comes over for dinner? “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (v 14).

Lord, you have redeemed and rescued me. I praise you for being so good to me. My face is radiant. Show me today who you want me to reach out to. Who needs to feel your love? Lord, guide me as I seek to do your will.

Holy Week Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Psalm 64 1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. 3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. 4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear. 5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?” 6 They plot injustice and say, We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. 7 But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down. 8 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. 9 All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. 10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!

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Devotion by: Kate Farrar Psalm 64 Psalm 64 is split into two distinct parts. The first part is David’s plea to God to be saved from his enemies. The second is David’s declaration of God’s faithfulness and commitment to justice. David tell us that he is being plotted and conspired against (verse 2). He likens his enemies’ tongues to swords and words to bitter arrows (verse 3). It is interesting that David’s response was not to try to outsmart them or outtalk them, but rather to go to the Lord in prayer. David knows that only God can deliver him from this, not his own abilities or strength. It makes me realize that next time I am in a tough spot I should be asking myself, “Have I prayed about this as much as I have talked about it?” David knew that when facing his enemies, his first call should be to God. The second part of the psalm is David proclaiming God’s victory over his enemies. David does not say that he hopes God will come through; he is totally sure that God will deliver him. David knows that our God is a better archer than our enemies, that his arrows are stronger and cut deeper. Am I that confident in God’s ability to come to my rescue? Do I trust that God is bigger than any enemy I will face? In the last verse, David says that “the righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him” (verse 10). We will certainly face injustice and evil on this earth and some of these things won’t be made right in our lifetime. However, we know that one day Jesus will return and right every wrong. In the meantime, we can rejoice and take refuge in the Lord.

Father, please forgive us for not coming to you first when we are in need. Help us not to be overwhelmed by adversity, but to trust that you are faithful to deliver us from evil. Thank you for sending your son and overcoming injustice once and for all on the cross.

Holy Week Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Psalm 110 1 The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.

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Devotion by: Molly Caldwell Psalm 110: The Lord will be victorious! In these seven verses, the psalmist describes our savior as he takes his place at the right hand of the Father. The psalmist correlates the Lord with the high priest Melchizedek, the first priest/king of Old Testament. Jesus, High Priest over all, is the embodiment of the righteous faithfulness once displayed by Melchizedek in the time of Abraham. We are weak and corrupt people, yet Jesus sits at the right hand of our father, to rule graciously and victoriously over the earth. We are his subjects, his enemies, in need of judgment, restoration, and salvation. He will restore justice as he crushes the rulers of this fallen world and judges his people. It is through the Lord’s faithful rule that the battle will convene on earth. As believers, we have been restored by the story of Christ’s life, death, and victory. Now we can go out from the folds of his love as his willing soldiers and refresh the earth, like the morning dew. We can be shimmering reminders of Christ, whose victory will quench the fallen world. The images described in this psalm should ignite us with a passion for the Lord’s fight. During the season of Lent, we are subdued with reminders of our vast depravity as human beings and our need for a savior. This Psalm points toward the Lord’s victory in the midst of our sin, shifting our somber self-reflection to praises for the God who fights for salvation. This is a truth we can stand on as redeemed and willing soldiers. We are engaged by the Lord to live in the pure truth of faith, the full story of Christ on earth, and the promise of his final victory. Relish in the awaited glory of the Lord’s sacrifice and victory over death!

Lord, Praise you! You are so gracious. I’m so sorry for being corruptible and power-hungry. It is your victory on earth, not mine, that I want to fight for. Please, let me be a soldier for your kingdom, and help me deny my selfish desires for personal victory. I love you. Amen

Holy Week Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2013 Psalm 62:1-8 1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4 Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. 5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Devotion by: Lee-Anne Allman Life has a sound track, or at least it does in the Allman house. No surprise then that to our family, Psalm 62 invokes melodies. “Rock of Ages” (hymn written in 1763), Paul Simon “Loves me like a rock’ (written 1973) or even a Bob Segar influenced commercial for Chevy trucks – “Like a Rock”. The message is as stable and timeless as the melodies. God is our rock (v.2/6), our fortress (v.2/6), our refuge (v.7). Strong, steady immovable. In the last 12 months when life has felt as if it might be unraveling, when our close friend dies, when Nate has lost his job and we aren’t sure how we are going to make it, the message is this: God is our rock and we, therefore, “will never be shaken”(v.2). We may feel as though we lie broken upon that rock, but it is He who stands firm: “On Christ the solid rock I stand…all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand”. And lest we get too caught in the pictures and begin to imagine just cold, hard fortress walls that we can hide behind, notice what the Psalmist highlights. The benefits of this Rock? Rest for our souls (v.1) Even after his own personal anguish (v.3,4), a pause…”Yes, my soul finds rest” (v.5). Glorious right? A soul that is peaceful…resting and not anguished. Who doesn’t want that? As if that isn’t enough, there is more: “hope” (v.5) and “salvation” (v.1/6). Hope is looking forward – it’s active. And so the rock is protection? Yes, Rest? Yes, but also a springboard for hope and for a future, a tilting of our chins upwards. The melody is clear, the song is almost sung: chorus (v.1 and 2); verse (v3 and 4); chorus repeat (5 and 6). The penultimate thought (v.7) inserts the Psalmist’s ownership of that closeness to God “my mighty rock”; “my refuge.” What does that mean for us? Crescendo here (v.8) “Trust in Him, all the time. You can pour out your heart to Him. He is safe and your soul will find rest, salvation and hope. God is our refuge”. Lord, may we know that today. We stand on the Rock, and we, therefore, will never be shaken. Thank you Lord, that you are the strength and stability when we feel we have none. Amen. Join us for Maundy Thursday Worship Tonight

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Holy Week Good Friday, March 29, 2013 Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” 9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. 19 But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you, I will fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him—may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn:He has done it!

Devotion by: Jamie Merrill & Grant Shidawara It is difficult, almost impossible, to imagine Christ's suffering as he seemed to face his last hours alone and isolated from those whom he had shared an earthly life. In Psalm 22, David tells of his own anguish, but also of the sacrifice Jesus will make on our behalf. Most of us will never know this extreme pain, torment, fear, or longing to be taken from a situation. How often do we feel like proclaiming as the psalmist does, "Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help." The psalmist helps us see, however, that regardless of his current state of physical suffering, Jesus consistently calls upon His father. In verse 19 we hear him cry, "But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me." As I contemplate the distance from our present day lives and the last day Jesus faced on earth, I begin to become keenly aware of the sacrifice he chose to bear on our behalf. It was because of his obedience and devotion to our Father that in spite of the physical pain and suffering he was experiencing, he continued to abide. Jesus' love for us, those whom could never understand the full impact of his final hours, is unfathomable. In her book Lost Women of the Bible, Carolyn Custis James calls us to identify with Mary, mother of Jesus and his first disciple. She may have also cried out as did the psalmist and Jesus himself, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?" As Mary watched her firstborn suffer, and willingly give up His spirit, she continued to look to the Father. As Custis states, "Like her son, she was focused on her Father's business." The final verses of Psalm 22 stay with us long after the dark hours of Good Friday give way to the unspeakable joy of the Resurrection. May we also find peace, and boldly proclaim as King David, "Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!"

Jesus, your desire to draw us closer to the Father led you to suffer and die on the cross. Your eyes were not diverted from your burden, and your love for us lay straight the path that we are traveling towards fully embracing God's plan for our lives. Lord, may we, too, be focused not on ourselves, but on your business. Amen.

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A time of prayer and devotion to prepare for the joy of Easter Spring’s Easter Vigil – 9:00 – noon (remembrance of Jesus’ hours on the cross) Saturday, March 30: Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale Readings for Stations of the Cross, personal Bible reading time; quiet devotion time & prayer Come when you can; Leave when you must

Holy Week Saturday, March 30, 2013 Psalm 49:1-15 1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor alike: 3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: 5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? 7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay. 10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. 11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. 12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. 14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. 15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.

Devotion by: Marty Martin God can do what we cannot. It is a simple statement, but profound and all the more because it is true. “No one [no mere person] can redeem the life of another …” (vs. 7) But God can … “God will redeem me from the realm of the dead.” (vs.15) Who or what we trust is the most important choice we ever make. The psalmist starts his “proverb” with the words “Why should I fear when evil days come …?” (vs. 5), then raises the question of who or what do I trust in the face of my fears. Riches and wealth? (vs. 12) That I will somehow escape death, the fate of all? (vs. 12) Myself? (vs. 13) Or do I trust the God who redeems? (vs. 15) Faith is not just belief. I believe in my wife. Does that mean I believe that she exists? Yes, but far more than that. It means that I trust her. Belief in God is not merely the belief that God exists. It is trusting the one who “buys me back” (redeems me) from whatever enslaves me. From fear, from fate, from addiction, from apathy, from all that is wrong in my own life and from all the wrong anyone else could do to me. How? Through trust. Anxiety and worry are forms of fear. They do not go away by themselves. They only go away through trust, but not just trust in anything. Not riches, not fate, not myself (my strength, abilities, beauty or character). Jesus said, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

Lord, I do come to you in this moment. I trust you with all that I am and all that I have. I give you my need for security, my need for affection and esteem, my need for power and control. Lord Jesus, Give me your peace and rest. Amen.

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Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 Psalm 150 1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Devotion by: Ben & Sharon Parker If you are ever unsure what your response to God should be, Psalm 150 is a good place to look. This Psalm answers a few questions for us. Where should we praise God? We should praise Him wherever we are, inside or outside, on earth or in heaven. Why should we praise God? We should praise Him because He is great and powerful and, therefore, worthy of our praise. What should we praise God with? We should praise Him with everything we have, our hands (stringed instruments), our mouths (wind instruments) and our bodies (dancing). What should praise him? Every living thing should praise the Lord. Throughout the Lenten season, we have tried to focus our hearts on Christ and what he has done for us. The Psalmist wrote that we should, “praise him for his acts of power,” when his greatest act was still to come. Today we celebrate that act. Jesus conquered death, so that we no longer have to die but can live forever in him. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”(NIV) What greater reason to praise God than the hope that we are given by Easter Sunday? The challenge though is to remember that hope every day. The only question Psalm 150 did not answer was, “When should we praise God?” In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The apostles and the Psalmist agree that our response to God should be praise. Praise him with all that we have, for all that he has done for us, all the time. He is Risen. Hallelujah.

Our Wonderful Savior, today especially we are so grateful for the gift of your Son. Today I pray that we could continually remember your love for us and praise you continually. May the distractions of this earth never get in the way of constantly giving you all the glory. Amen.

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Let’s Become Prayer Partners at The Spring Many of the Psalms were lifted to God in prayer and covered a full range of topics. They teach us that God wants to hear from us in all circumstances: praise, illness, suffering, personal need, concern for our family and friends, and concern for our world. Prayer is how we converse with God, both talking to Him and listening to Him. Prayer can happen anytime and anywhere. Paul reminds us of the importance of prayer in our faith life in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Your Commitment We would like to have as many committed prayer partners as possible at The Spring. Every Monday, prayer partners would receive an e-mail of the weekly list of prayers we offer up on Sunday (and anonymous requests that arrive in writing). Your prayer partner commitment would be to pray through the list daily.

Yes, I want to be a Prayer Partner Name: ______Phone: ______

Print your e-mail address: ______Please turn this form into the offering plate by April 14, or e-mail your information to [email protected]. We will begin e-mailing prayer request lists on Monday, April 15.

Another Invitation If you would like to join in prayer before Sunday worship, you are invited to come to the Fellowship Hall at 4:00 any Sunday afternoon.

Devotional Acknowledgements: Thank you to each one who prayerfully and thoughtfully prepared a devotion Thank you to those who submitted art work or photographs: Brinley Nassise (cover), Katherine Loh (p. 42), & Savannah Verdugo (pp.6, 9, 12, 27, & 41) Thank you to Alphagraphics on University for assistance and consideration in printing our devotional

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