The Hand of a Servant

Saturday, March 3

Read: Psalm 51:1-17

It was a late March evening, just before dusk, as I stood on a bridge

across the Rhine River in South West Germany. The days of Lent were

rapidly moving to Good Friday and Easter. Depressed and lonely, mesmerized

by the water below, I began pondering life’s meaning and purpose.

Suddenly a hand touched my shoulder and a voice spoke to me in

German, asking if I was ok. Our conversation continued until the voice

said, “look.” As I turned and looked across the water, lights danced everywhere

as the city of Mannheim had gone from dusk, to darkness, to light!

The voice said to me: “I’ve stood here many evenings and watched what

you have just observed and I have been renewed, enriched and challenged

when my life moved from dusk, to darkness, and then to light!” My eyes

fixed on the beauty of a skyline, fully glowing with light, I began to recall

some words a Sunday School teacher shared: (John 12:36) “Put your trust

in the light while you have it, so that you may become children of light.”

No! The hand on my shoulder was not literally the hand of God, except

that it came through one of God’s servants using her hands to touch

someone depressed and lonely!

Prayer:

May the days of Lent engulf us with thoughts about how you, O God in the

gift of Your Son, travel with us in our dusk and darkness and bring us into the

marvelous light of resurrection and new life! Amen. ~The Rev. Buzz Moore

Every Moment

Friday, March 2

Read: Psalm 46

In tuition paid with money found in an “empty” special fund. In the

face of a shy child who asks the congregation to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle”

as our closing Christmas carol. In a prayer-filled woman who is told the

large “spots” found in her annual mammogram are gone a week later. In

the peaceful face of a man who died of cancer that same month. In the

many times God has “filled the gap” between what I preached and what

He wanted others to hear. In a seemingly haphazard children’s Christmas

play that speaks the “Good News of great joy” as eloquently as any wellprepared

sermon. In a family of deer moving through a cemetery bringing

a quiet awe and wonder to Easter sunrise. In a worship service held in a

cement-floor, tin-roof “barn” that was as grand as any cathedral. In the

hospice patients who have encouraged me as much – or more – than I

have encouraged them. In the “a-ha” moments at summer camp as young

people begin to grasp God’s amazing love. In the children’s crayon art

that fills my office wall. In my wife who willingly left her family several

thousand miles behind because God led her husband to Iowa. In a son

born after hope of having children seemed gone. Where have I seen Jesus

at work in the world? Where haven’t I?

Prayer:

Lord, help us to remember that, as Creator God, You can be found in every

moment of our lives. Teach us, once again, to be still and know that You are God.

Amen. ~The Rev. Joe Phipps

A Daughter’s Gift

Thursday, March 1

Read: Matthew 18:1-4

There are moments in a parent’s life when they realize that their child

understands life so much better then themselves. Unfortunately, for me, I

realized it last year when my oldest daughter was only nine. Mackenzie

won a costume contest and the prize was a gift certificate to the local

movie theater. She was so excited by this gift; it was a most precious treasure

to her. For the next several weeks we tried to find a time and a movie

that the whole family could go to. Being a family of six it was hard. So,

Mackenzie stored her gift certificate in a special place where she was sure

not to lose it. Christmas rolled around and we all became absorbed in holiday

preparations. I awoke on Christmas morning, like many parents, excited

to watch my children unwrap their gifts. Children’s unhindered expressions

of joy are priceless. In the midst of the wrapping paper being

shredded, my nine year old daughter hands me a folded piece of paper. I

opened the paper, a note written by her, which read “Mom and Dad, I

wanted to get you something bigger and better but this is all that I have.

Merry Christmas! I Love You Mackenzie.” Folded up in this precious note

was her gift card to the movies. Her precious treasure she freely and gladly

gave away.

I see God in the gift from a nine year old.

Mackenzie gave her most precious treasure – gift card.

God gave His most precious treasure – His Son.

Jesus gave His most precious treasure – His life.

Prayer:

Lord, help us receive and embrace your most precious treasure. May we give

you our most precious treasure. Amen. ~Scott Briggs

Potlucks

Wednesday, February 29

Read: Joshua 24:14-27

On a cozy Saturday afternoon, while preparing pies, I enjoyed a conversation

with a woman who had Alzheimer’s disease. We tumbled through

topics and as I docked the dough, crimped the crust, and preheated the

oven our conversation fell on potlucks. She loved potlucks. She enjoyed

the food, faith, and fellowship. She shared with me the key to her success

at potlucks: desserts! I love potlucks, in Lent especially. They show Jesus

at work in the world filling stomachs and souls. I appreciate how much

church is found in potlucks, showing the richness and potential of covenanting.

We share stories, food, and laughter as the body of Christ. We

show our connection to each other, as a people of God the Father—we

show Jesus here working in the world continuing the salvation story begun

in Genesis through the time of Joshua; unending even through today. We

celebrate as we join Joshua in pointing to God the Father’s triumph in the

world.

Prayer:

Father God, you speak faithfulness to your people. Help us throughout Lent

to live and hear your covenant with us; because we know your covenant is the way we

become your church, we become the body of Christ at work in the world. As your

church, we serve and fear you, living sincerely, through you, your Son, and your Spirit.

Amen. ~The Rev. Pete Geoffrion

Rear View Mirror

Tuesday, February 28

Read: Joshua 1:9

Stock boy, student, salesman, summer missionary, army medic, high

school teacher, college professor, consultant, pastor, hospital chaplain –

this is what I see when I look in the rear view mirror of my life. I wonder

how it all works for what God wants for my life. In retrospect, I can see

how God’s hand was at work in my life, guiding me in each of these experiences

that I was gaining in preparation to serve Him. Many times we

do not see how all of our life’s experiences have any meaning, as if they

were disjointed, but they are all part of a big jigsaw puzzle. As I look into

the rear view mirror of my life, I can see how they all fit into my life’s picture

in fulfilling God’s purpose if I trust Him and am obedient to His

Word. God has promised that He will be with us wherever we go.

Prayer:

Guiding God, as we travel through this Lenten season, help us see how Jesus

is still at work in our lives and in our world. Help us to be obedient. Amen.

~The Rev. Dr. Sam Ramirez

A Spectacular Love

Monday, February 27

Read: Psalm 68:19

Recently, when my husband and I took a work team trip to Ethiopia,

we saw God at work. Our mission was to learn about the need for clean

water, schools, and food. We learned that worldwide the need for food is

the same. When Jesus overturned the money changer’s tables, I think he

was charging all of us to overturn our ideas about greed and entitlement to

“get what we deserve.” So often we forget to remember what and how

much we have! Kids and families across this country and throughout the

world go to bed hungry every night. We can help. We can stop saying “I

want” and “I need!” We can stop thinking that the life we live is something

“we deserve” because we are special. We have been exceptionally

blessed and we need to give in exceptional ways! Jesus died so we would

remember the kind of love that changes hearts and lives, and how one

small act of giving can ripple around the world. Jesus’ love pulls us to

respond to the hurts. We are the proof that His love is alive!

Prayer:

Lord, we consecrate ourselves to your spectacular style of love, that of meeting

the needs of others. Thank you for your life of love. Lead us to follow you ever more

closely during this week. Amen. ~Lesley Green Huffaker

Being the Body Together

Sunday, February 26

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:27

Years ago, as my friend’s father was dying, she learned many of his

darkest secrets. It was as if, in his hospital bed, he had no choice but to

confess, and confess he did. He told of the many times he had cheated on

her mother. He described his shady business dealings. He told of the ways

that he had ignored the needs of family and friends while indulging his

own wants. My friend was devastated --- so many secrets, so much pain,

such deep wounds. Now when she talks about that time in her life, she

talks about the pain of going to worship. She couldn’t pray; there were no

words. She couldn’t sing; there was no melody within. All she could do

was go to church and sit and cry. But in that season of life, she was carried

by the words and the faith of others. They prayed her prayers for her; they

sang her hymns; they gave voice to the creed … until she could find her

voice again. That is what Christian community does, what the Body of

Christ looks like. Sometimes, we have no words and our faith is thin, and

we get carried by others. More often, though, we get to be hope for others

and living proof of a Loving God.

Prayer:

May we always do that work in faith and with hope. Amen.

~The Rev. Nathan Kirkpatrick