Devotions for Lent - Sunday, Feb 28 - Saturday, March March 13

Ruth’s Contribution to Teri’s Blog

 

Sunday, February 28 – Second Sunday in Lent

 

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

 

I have pictures of our three children on my dresser in our bedroom. When I get around to dusting that dresser, I pick up each picture and look into the sweet eyes and smile of our daughters and son (the pictures were taken when the children were 1 year old.) I remember bathing them, dressing them, diapering them, reading to them, and tucking them into bed at night. Now I go to bed before they do, and only our youngest – Emma – still lives at home.

 

I always wanted to be a mother. I used to think I would have at least 6 children, but then I had our first 2 so close together that I was exhausted! So we settled on 3. But the love I have for our children still amazes me. And even though they are almost grown, I still feel such responsibility for them. I worry about them. I love them. I try to support them. And I am amazed by them and all they have learned and accomplished. Our children have been the light of my life and I am so grateful for having had the chance to be their mother – well at least most of the time! (The teenage years are a little tough.)

 

Today I invite you to think about the children you have loved or love in your life and how special that connection is, and then try to realize that the love God has for you as God’s child is even greater. You are beloved – yes you! You are loved unconditionally just because you are you and a child of God. So try to remember that today, feel that love.  Have a blessed day, Ruth.

 

Monday, March 1

 

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 96: 9)

 

Where do you see beauty in your life? Where do you encounter the holy? I felt in the presence of the holy when I walked around the grounds of Pokagon State Park in late January. With the beauty of the surroundings and the stark contrast of the white snow and the dark bare trees, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s creation. Children are so much better at noticing beauty – a blue sky, a rainbow, even a dandelion in your green grass, all seem to be noticed better by children than adults. So this Lenten season I am trying to look for beauty. I saw it last week when I baptized Catarina Foga and watched her delight in the water of the baptismal font and in her pretty new dress for that special occasion. I see it when I notice a couple holding hands in the pews. I see it in our new Gathering Place. I hear it when the choir sings an anthem on Sunday morning. Where do you see beauty in your life? Can you sense the holy in that beauty? Have a blessed day, Ruth

 

 

Tuesday, March 2

 

“For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)

 

I am writing this blog in February when I don’t think I have seen the sun for 2 weeks. Indiana is so cold and gray in the wintertime. Maybe by today we have a little sun and some warmer temperatures.

 

I have a small confession to make – I am scared of the dark. I have to have the hall light on at night just so I don’t have to sleep in complete darkness. I had a night-light when I was a child and our children did too. Light makes me feel more secure, less afraid, and more aware of my surroundings. You can’t see people’s expressions in the dark.

 

Christ is the light of the world. He illumines and personifies God’s love and purpose for our lives. Let him illumine you, so you can shine and be the person God wants you to be. Try to look today for ways to be a light of love in the life of someone. Shine the love. Have a blessed day, Ruth

 

Wednesday, March 3

 

“The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season.” (Psalm 145:15)

 

As many of you know, our family welcomed 2 puppies last August. They are supposed to be Emma’s dogs, but you know how that goes. So Mark and I have grandpuppies now to take care of. Their names are Claude and Louise. They are named after my grandparents and look and act very much like their namesakes. They will lie at my feet as I cook dinner hoping I will share some juicy chicken or hamburger. They love green peppers. Mealtime is their favorite time of day.

 

Our bodies have a need for food and we have other physical needs as well. And then there are the needs of our hearts, and the needs of others that we care about. My greatest need right now is for gainful employment for our son and another friend – both of whom are underemployed and looking for more challenging work – work that will use the gifts that God gave them. My prayer each day is for opportunities for those who are unemployed and underemployed. What are your deep needs right now? For whom do you pray for that has needs that are not being met? Can you be patient enough to wait for your prayers and needs to be met in God’s due season? Have a blessed day, Ruth.

 

Thursday, March 4

 

“Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, what awesome things God has done on earth.” (Psalm 46:8)

 

Where can you look and see God’s power and divine nature? Can you look at beautiful mountain ranges covered with snow and not believe in a divine creator? Can you look at a newborn baby and not believe in miracles? If the weather is nice today I encourage you to take a walk outside. Look for signs of spring and the miracle of renewal and new life.

Look around your house today and try to rediscover something that awes you. Is it a picture of your wedding – are you still married after all these years? – that’s pretty awe-inspiring! What about pictures of your family? Even if everyone doesn’t always get along, the love that families share can be awesome. Look for the presence of God today – inside, outside, at work, at home, in the grocery store, and in the sunrise or sunset. Look for the presence of God all day long.

Have a blessed day, Ruth.

 

Friday, March 5

 

“What are human beings that you should be mindful of them? Mortals that you should seek them out? You have made them but little lower than the angels.” (Psalm 8:4-5)

 

The bible tells us we are made in the image of God and that we were created good. But there are very few days that I feel like I do much for God’s image. When I was doing my chaplaincy internship at St’s Vincent about 10 years ago, my supervisor told me that when I went into a hospital room I could be the presence of Christ that day for that person. At first I thought I couldn’t do this – who was I to presume that I was the presence of Christ? But then I realized it was an honor to be that presence and that if I loved and listened and cared for that patient maybe they could get a glimpse of the way we are loved by God. So I went out into that hospital each day and tried to be the presence of Christ to strangers, outcasts, the sick, the lame, the mentally ill, the sinners and the dying – all beloved children of God. It was a privilege for me to represent at least one image of God.

 

So today I encourage you to look for God’s image in the people with whom you interact. Can you see some love? Can you see kindness? Can you see or feel some mercy and grace? Can you reflect back that love, kindness, mercy and grace? Have a blessed day, Ruth.

 

Saturday, March 6

 

“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor.’” (Mark 10:21)

 

I thought we got all our talk about sin out of our systems on Ash Wednesday! But it pops up again in our reflections and pray for the day. Love and judgment is the topic, but I just want the love! But how can we have a realistic relationship with Jesus if both judgment and love are not present. The judgment keeps me honest, it keeps me accountable, and it keeps me on my toes. It forces me to be honest with myself and God. It is unrealistic for me to sell all I own and give the money to the poor – that would be irresponsible to my family and their needs. But the truth is, I have more than I need and I fall short of being the generous person I could be. Sin and judgment.

But I also know that nothing – nothing I did or did not do in this life – separates me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:39)

 

 

Lent has traditionally been a time to examine our lives, to see our sin, and to repent or turn around and away from what separates us from God. Ask God to forgive your sins this day, knowing that your sins will be forgiven – because  even though there will be judgment, in the end there is always mercy and grace.

 

Sunday, March 7

 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good, happy are they who trust in the Lord!” (Psalm 34:8)

 

As you read this on March 7^th I will hopefully be in Cancun Mexico with our youth director Julie Shannon. (I know, Mexico in March, pretty tough working conditions wouldn’t you say?!) Julie and I are in Mexico for the ordination of our partner church’s pastor, Neri Tomas. Neri has been studying and preparing for this day for many years and Northminster has provided support and encouragement to him and to the church he serves – Principe de Paz.

 

 Our Lenten suggestion and prayer is about eating simply. We probably won’t be eating simply at the celebration tonight, but our Mexican sisters and brothers in Christ certainly know about eating simply. This congregation that we partner with is in a very poor section of Cancun. Many of the houses around the church are really just shacks – metal siding walls and a tent for a roof. The people in the community are quite poor and many of them have limited food sources. So keep Julie and me in your prayers for the next few days as we travel to and from Mexico. And pray for the congregation of Principe de Paz – as their needs are great, some of them are hungry and many of them are malnourished. Have a blessed day, Ruth

 

Monday, March 8

 

“Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)

 

How can our mouths proclaim the goodness and glory of God? Well I thinking singing is a wonderful way of praising God and I am so appreciative of the hymns we sing on Sunday morning and how the choir anthems enrich our worship. But my words don’t always praise God. I have been known to say a swear word or two (but not in the pulpit like some pastors I know – ha, ha!) Plus what comes out of my mouth is not always positive or encouraging or loving. I don’t say enough words of appreciation or gratitude. If nothing unworthy of God is to pass my lips today, I am going to have to be very careful of what I say. The tongue as the apostle Paul reminds us can be very hurtful, and that is my prayer for today. May everything I think and say today glorify God and be words of thanksgiving, praise and gratitude for the wonderful blessings I receive from God. Have a blessed day, Ruth

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 9

 

“They feast upon the abundance of your house; you give them drink from the river of your delights.” (Psalm 36:8)

 

Our devotional guide encourages us to look and consider all that went into the preparation of the food in front of us. As most of you know, I am not much of a cook. I obviously love to eat, but I have little interest in cooking, and when I do it rarely comes out like the recipe says it will.

 

One time I tried to make Jell-O Jigglers for the children when they were little. I followed the directions on the back of the Jell-O package. The kids helped me make them and they were so excited about eating those wiggly sweet Jell-O treats. But I obviously didn’t pay enough attention to the directions (that is usually my problem) and they stuck to the pan and wouldn’t come out. I tried to put the pan in some warm water and as I pulled the pan out of the sink all the Jigglers slid out and down the drain. I used words you shouldn’t use in front of children and they cried. I have never made Jigglers or anything with Jell-O since!

 

When we are in Mexico our brothers and sisters at our partner church always cook something special for us. One year they made tamales. Not only are these expensive to make, they take hours to prepare. I’m not a big fan of tamales, but I eat every bite, because I realize the time it took to make them, the sun, soil and rain it took to grow the corn, and because I realize they were made with love. Although we can abuse it, food can be a reminder of how we are loved and cared for by God and by those who cook for us. I give thanks to God for all the people who have grown the food, prepared the food, cooked the food and served the food that has fed me all of my life. I am truly blessed and I wish you a blessed day today. Ruth 

 

Wednesday, March 10

 

“My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God.” (Psalm 42:2)

 

Our Lenten devotions for today encourage us to fast. Have you ever completely fasted for a whole day – no food all day long? Except for medical reasons I have done this about 10 times in the last decade – wow – about once a year. Not much to brag about is it?!

Maybe you can’t fast due to medical reasons, but fasting from food for 24 hours is very difficult. By lunchtime you are really hungry. And by dinnertime it is all you think about. How can I think about God when I am so hungry?

 

But when you are hungry is does remind you of how primal that need and urge to eat is and how necessary to your well being it is. What if you went a whole day without praying – would you notice it as much as not eating that day? We do need God, each and every day, and each and every minute of our lives, but we take it for granted that God will always be there. So try to fast today and let me know how it goes. I hope this discipline will help you know how important your need of God is. Don’t take it for granted. And make sure you drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated until you eat again tomorrow.

Have a blessed day today. Ruth

 

Thursday, March 11

 

“Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)

 

I love music. I like and love all different types of music. I played the cello for about 25 years until life intervened and children and work took so much of my time. I loved playing the cello, and for a while I was pretty good at it. It just fed my soul somehow. The cello has such a rich and mellow sound  and sometimes when I was playing I just felt like it was an extension of my body – it was like my body was singing somehow.

 

I love classical music, blues, jazz, rock and any song by James Taylor. I have even started to like country music and have enjoyed listening and singing along to Roseanne Cash’s new album The List. I love listening to “oldies” radio stations and I can often be found singing along to the radio in my car. I still remember camp songs and songs we sang in my high school youth group. I used to sing those songs to the kids when they were babies.

 

Singing is often a way for me to pray and praise and shout to God. The melody helps express my mood and the words help me to express my thoughts and feelings. What songs help you express your thanks and praise to God for life and love? What type of music helps you feel closer to God? What type of music makes you feel alive and joyful?

I hope you have a joy filled and blessed day today. Ruth

 

Friday, March 12

 

If any of you think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

 

Today we are to search our hearts and consider whether we have made any thoughtless or unkind remarks recently. Is the author serious? I think the question should be when have I had a week without making a thoughtless or unkind remark! Over the years I have said so many mean things to my husband it is a wonder he even talks to me. And gossip. The church is rife with gossip. But that often happens in groups, especially ones where they know each other well.

 

Lent is a time for repentance, to acknowledge our sin and to repent or turn from it. I have gotten better at not just speaking in the heat of the moment – I guess maturity has some benefits. But words have great power and they can be so destructive and hurtful. So my prayer today is for God’s help in curbing my tongue and for God’s forgiveness when I fail. May you feel God’s love and forgiveness in your prayers today too. Ruth

 

Saturday, March 13

 

“How sweet are your words to my taste! They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103)

 

I never used to have much of a sweet tooth. When I had food cravings they were for salty foods like chips and nuts. Well something has changed in my old age and I crave sweet things and chocolate all the time. I just ate a Hershey’s Kiss and there is nothing like that sweet milk chocolate melting on your tongue!

 

What are the sweet words we hear from God – especially if we listen? How about “I love you – or you are forgiven.” “I will not leave you.” “I will always be faithful to you.” “I have sent Jesus to you to show you how much I love you and for the redemption of the world.” “I want to bring about healing and wholeness in your life.”

 

 Listen for God’s word to you today. Listen for God’s word in scripture. Spend some time in silent prayer and just listen. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Have a blessed day, Ruth