Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church Lenten Devotional 2019 Through daily devotion, we can draw nearer to God. We read our Bible, coming across scripture we haven’t read in a while, some we’ve never read at all, and other passages that are a well-worn path in our brain. The reflections written by members of our congregation allow us to experience scripture through different lenses and perspectives. Take time for yourself and your faith life by “devoting” a few minutes each day to read the verses of the day, the devotion and prayer. The front cover is an opportunity to complete some meditative coloring. Within the larger blank spaces, you can include words or phrases. Coloring can provide stress-relief and help you to relax. Thank you to all who wrote for our Lenten Devotional. Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Psalm 51:1-17 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning Give your gifts in of our Lenten journey of self-examination and secret, and your reflection to prepare us once again to be able to Father, who knows truly celebrate Resurrection Sunday. However, I would like to celebrate something with you now! all secrets will As I looked at the assigned scripture for reward you. today, I kept being drawn to Matthew, chapter 6. Matthew 6:4 In the three verses I’m highlighting, Jesus uses the word “secret” six times – twice in each verse. This message is very familiar to us. As I often do for Grief Share, I look at a particular word as a focus. I decided to do the same for this meditation – with the word secret. I pulled out my old Webster’s Dictionary and found: as a noun, meanings include undisclosed and unrevealed; as an adjective, meanings include hidden from others, revealed to none or few; synonyms include covert, stealthy, underhanded, clandestine. Join me in trying to imagine what Jesus meant. Which meaning of secret do you think fits His teachings? Probably not the negative synonyms, right? The noun or adjective meanings would seem to fit better. We recently had an experience here at Reformation where a sizeable financial gift was given “in secret” with a challenge for us to dig a little deeper to pay off our mortgage with matching funds before the end of 2018. The Good News is that we accomplished this amazing task. Who did? Don’t know – the gifts were “in secret”. The beautiful thing is that our Heavenly Father “knows all secrets and He will reward you.” Hallelujah! Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is with joy and gratitude that we can celebrate our good stewardship of paying off our mortgage. Help us to continue to be stewards of all of Your gifts to us: our time, our talents, our treasure. We seek to serve You. Show us Your way. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Judy Plica Thursday, March 7, 2019 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Exodus 5:10-23 Acts 7:30-34 Those who love me, I will The above passages are my favorite from deliver; I will protect this reading. I myself feel that I have to be reminded of this more often than not. I those who know my name. find it especially hard when I am dealing When they call to me, I with the stresses of the work day and/or will answer them; I will stresses in my own personal and family be with them in trouble, I life. I believe that I am not the only will recue them and honor person that feels this way. It is so easy to them. get caught up in trying to figure things out on our own, that we tend to forget Psalm 91: 14-15 that we are never alone. God is with us every day and every step of the way. We may not always understand what His plan is for us, but He is always there watching over us. This is a very comforting feeling. Prayer: Dear God, Help us to remember that we are never alone regardless of what we are going through. We know that you are our refuge and strength. Amen Melanie Bechtel Friday, March 8, 2019 Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16 Exodus 6: 1-13 Acts 7: 35-42 Before I was born I had a protector, someone that took care of all my needs even before I recognized them. After I was born I was allowed more freedom but still recognized that same protector, my mother. As I grew I always depended upon that protection; I heard a loud noise, saw an unfamiliar person, saw a frightening animal and I hid behind my mother. I fell, was hurt, had an accident or injured myself, a kiss from my mother cured it. At that age, the most powerful protection was a mother’s love. Now that I am an adult, the most talked about item on the news lately is the acquisition of protection. Protection of your health, your property, your rights, your job, your nation. Who do you have to protect you and are they reputable, can they be counted upon? If you have the best there is, you can go about living without worrying about what may happen; you can explore life, you can afford to be generous to others with your life because your protector has taken fear from you. Of course the best always costs more, you must pay more, you must keep in contact with your protection and renew your contract constantly, you must reveal all aspects of your life, both good and bad, if you expect your protector to defend you in everything. You must expose yourself and act according to the rules set by that protector. We are at the beginning of Lent, the time that we check in with our Great Protector. The price that we pay is our devotion to Him and the time that we spend renewing and updating the conduct of our life according to the rules that He has set. There is no greater defense then Him and He does not exclude anyone from His care. We should not hesitate to go to Him but become as a child and call on Him immediately. Prayer: God! I am a child who needs help. Please guide me in the way that you want me to go. My soul is in need of cleaning but, with Your help, I can prepare myself for the joys of Your Son’s resurrection and eternal life with You. Amen! Fritz Bower Saturday, March 9, 2019 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 John 12:27-36 Do you ever feel overwhelmed by work, For everything there responsibility at home, extra projects or is a season, a time for volunteer opportunities? I think this verse can every activity under help! There is a “time to embrace and a time to heaven. turn away…a time to keep and a time to throw away…a time to be quiet and a time to speak”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 If you’ve been going and going without taking a break, remember that there is a time to be on the go and a time to lay on the couch. These verses in Ecclesiastes are quite well-known. The drastic contrast within each line can sometimes be confusing and certain lines can honestly challenge us. Does the Bible really say there is a time for peace and a time for war? Shouldn’t we always be at peace? “A time to plant and a time to harvest” reminds us that there is a true give and take with our relationship with one another and the world around us. However, I believe these verses help to give us some perspective. Life is all about a healthy balance. Prayer: Dear Lord, remind us to find the right balance in life. Guide us to keep You present in our busy lives. Amen. Sarah Hawk Sunday, March 10, 2019 Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 Psalm 91: 1-2; 9-16 Romans 10: 8b-13 Luke 4: 1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, I have come to believe that what is most important to grasp about returned from the Jordan Jesus coming to us in human form is and was led by the Spirit in that there is nothing in our experience the wilderness, where for that Jesus does not know firsthand. In forty days he was tempted by Luke, a spirit filled Jesus, blessed and the devil. He at nothing at inspired by his Fathers words, “This is all during those days, and my Son, whom I love, in whom I am well please.” is immediately driven into when they were over, he was the desert. There he is tested. famished. How many times have we been blessed by some happy or good Luke 4:1-2 fortune, only be thrust into a dry season that tests our faith. We are not alone. Jesus knows this, and what comforts me most about this is not only does he know my experience, but he overcomes it. I am weak, and temptation can at times get the best of me. But thanks be to God, in Christ Jesus. He has born our griefs and sorrows. He knows our pain. And he has won the battle for us. Prayer: O God, I am grateful that in Jesus, your dear son, there is nothing of my life, its struggles, difficulties and temptations that you do not know first had.