Sunday, February 14

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them –
those who are mistreated –
since you yourselves are in the body also.”
Hebrews 13:3

A woman in our congregation has taken on the huge responsibility of ministering to young women in a juvenile correctional facility. One night a week, she meets with these young women who, it seems, have lost their way. They have Bible study, they sing, and they just talk. These young women’s lives are hanging in the balance; at a time in their lives when they could go either way. At an age when they are formative enough where things could change, but yet hardened to the cruel ways of the world. Their world revolves around a letter from home; most times though, that letter never comes. No one seems to care. And maybe because of that indifference, that lack of caring, they are where they are right now.

But someone does care. She appears every Wednesday night, ready to take on the world, their world. As she reaches out to them, it has to be a heart-wrenching mission for her. Knowing in a couple of hours, she can go to the safety and security of her own home while these women have an uncertain and possibly bitter future awaiting them. But for those few hours on that one evening a week, there is someone who cares; someone who will carry the burdens of these young women for the rest of the week; thinking about them, caring about them, and praying for them.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let our hearts not be hardened so that we can see the gifts you have given us and the endless possibilities you provide us. Guide us to where we are most needed to do your work, in the name of our Lord and Savior. Amen

Monday, February 15

“Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion;
guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.”
Micah 7:5

Recently, my daughter and a friend were supposed to see a play. She was looking forward to going out on the town for the night, have dinner and go to the play. She got ready and was driving to pick up her friend when she got a call that her friend did not want to go. So she was left to attend the play by herself or not go at all. After all the preparation and anticipation, her friend let her down.

This event was not something that will change her life, but it was a disappointment. We find this in life, don’t we, a friend, co-worker, acquaintance has let us down, disappointed us. We put our faith and trust in someone and they didn’t come through. We may have done the same thing to someone else who was counting on us. Maybe it was intentional or maybe it was just circumstances beyond our control. But it happened and someone was let down.

When will we realize that placing our faith and trust in people and things will leave us open for disappointment? When will we realize that the only sure thing when placing faith and trust is placing it in Jesus Christ? When will we learn?

Prayer: You are always near. Help us to realize that you are our trustiest friend. We pray that we can have as much faith and trust in you that you have in us. Amen.

Tuesday, February 16

“…for your father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray, ‘Our father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:8-13

Worry. Today, we have enough of it. Call it what you will – worry, stress, overly concerned, anxious, troubled – they all fit the bill. We worry about our kids, our parents, our job, money, health, the test we have to take in school, the price of gas, the lack of rain, too much rain, and on and on and on. You pick the item and I will bet you have worried about it some time in your life. When the big things aren’t worrying us, we dwell on the small things.

So tell me, how did the thing you were worried about turn out? The negative outcomes of our worries that we imagine will happen, generally never come about. And when the thing that we are worried about never happens, we go on worrying about something new. It’s just human nature. We tend to fear the worst.

Did you ever turn your problems over to God? Here God, my plate is too full. I can’t deal with this anymore. Here, you take it.

Worry stifles our ability and capacity to accept what God has for us. Even our biggest fears, our biggest worries are surmountable with God. As Jesus told us, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes.”

Trust in the Lord. Let His kingdom come. Let His will be done. God will provide you with what you need, when you need it. Your worry will not change God’s plan for you. Trust in Him, have faith in Him. Live your life for God as if there were no tomorrow. If you are in the right place with God today, tomorrow will take care of itself.

Prayer: Merciful God, forgive us for our human frailty of worry. We tend to think we know what is best and try to rule the outcomes in our lives by hoping, wishing, and worrying. Our worry only confirms our need for your love. Lift the burdens of our everyday lives so that we can focus on your grace and mercy to live out life on your terms, not ours. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday

“O daughter of my people, dress in sackcloth and roll about in ashes!
Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;
For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.” Jeremiah 6:26

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Our season of sacrifice has begun and will only end when the one who gave His life for you has taken His rightful place next to the Father.

What are you giving up for Lent? I had a roommate in college who fasted on Wednesdays during Lent. I give him credit, he stuck to the sacrifice. He was Roman Catholic, never went to church, but fasted one day a week during Lent. And, I will say, he did plan ahead. At 11:30 every Wednesday night during Lent, he ordered a pizza. The pizza was delivered just before midnight and I am sure that there was nothing left five minutes after midnight.

We do not place much emphasis on self-sacrifice or self-denial during Lent. I have heard of people giving up skydiving or space travel during Lent only to be able to say they lived up to their Lenten promise of sacrifice.

Lent is a good time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made for us. It is a good time to put our lives in perspective; to see the things that are truly important and to focus on the things that truly matter in this life if we are to attain the next life.

Today, when the ashes are placed on your forehead, you cannot see them but you know that they are there. The only way to see that visible sign of the ashes of today is to look in the mirror. And as you do, the person looking back is the person Jesus died to save.

Prayer: Oh Lord, today, especially today, let me begin my Lenten journey focused on your journey to the cross so long ago. Let me come to realize that your sacrifice was for me. Give me the willingness to make sacrifices in my lives for your glory and honor. I pray this in the name of the one who gave his life for me. Amen.

Thursday, February 18

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

During WWII there was a church in Europe that was bombed and destroyed. In this church, there was a statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched. Under the statue was a plaque with a verse from Matthew “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The statue was also destroyed in the bombing of that city. After the war, the members of that church wanted to rebuild the church on the same site, using pieces of the old church. The people rebuilding the church wanted to put up the same statue, the old statue, of Jesus. They found the old plaque with the verse from Matthew and they sifted thru the ruble and found what they thought was every piece of the statue. They put the statue back together, but there were no pieces of the hands. They continued to look thru the ruble, but no hands. The hands were gone. So they put up the statue – without the hands. And under it, they put up the original plaque, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Then someone added another plaque under the original old plaque. That plaque said simply, “Lord, we will be your hands.”

Jesus will sustain us. He will carry our burdens. And with Him, we will find rest.

However, Jesus has left this earthly life. He is now in heaven with the Father. And us, we are here, on earth, to do his work. It is our calling as Christians to carry on, to live for Him. And if we tire, if we get disheartened, if our burdens get to be too much, He will give us rest.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing us to do your work. There is no greater calling than that of serving You. Give us the strength, the wisdom, and the direction to live our lives for You, to be Your hands. Amen

Friday, February 19

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12

A couple of years ago, our pastor retired which left our pulpit vacant. Pulpit supply was filled by retired pastors and some of the members of the congregation. I was fortunate enough to preach on several Sundays.

After a service when I had given the sermon, I went to the back of the church to greet the parishioners. One woman with an eight year old in tow, seemed to have been greatly moved by the sermon. Her words to me were, “You must be filled with the Holy Spirit.” What a great complement. I was flying high. Pushing my luck, I asked her eight year old son what he thought of the sermon. He responded, “I think you are full of it too.” From the mouths of babes. Nothing can ground you like an honest comment.

We have all met people who have a slightly or not so slight inflated opinion of themselves. They are full of it or full of themselves. Whether it be their position in life, their job, their education, or any number of other inadequate reasons to think they are better than everyone else, they still think they are better than just about everyone else. Although we would never admit we could be like this too. And just for the record, we have all acted this way at some time in our lives.

We are not to build ourselves up, making us seem greater than we are. Humbleness does not come easy to us. It seems to go against our nature. But this is something we must strive to improve. Our successes do not belong to us. If we are successful it is because God has blessed us. It is not because of our doing. Let us not let our head swell too big to pop that halo we have given ourselves.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, keep our heads and hearts in check when it comes to our opinions of ourselves. Let us never forget that all of our successes, all of our talents, everything comes from you. Let us be only grateful for all that you have bestowed upon us and use it for your glory. Amen.

Saturday, February 20

“I was a stranger and you did not take me in,
naked and you did not clothe me,
sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”
Matthew 25:43

There is a story about a little girl. This story took place over 150 years ago. The little girl’s name was Catherine Booth. One day, she was running along the road playing with a hoop and a stick. She looks up and sees a prisoner being dragged away by a policeman to jail. A mob was following the prisoner and the policeman, yelling and calling out names at the prisoner. Looking at the prisoner, his utter loneliness, being dragged thru the streets, appealed to her heart. It seemed to her that he didn’t have a friend in the world. She quickly ran to his side and walked down the street with him, determined he should know that someone was with him whether he was innocent or guilty, one person was with him. This little girl grew up, got married to William Booth, and in 1865, founded the Salvation Army.

This story illustrates the same kind of selflessness that Jesus shares with us. We may not be in the same straits as the prisoner in the story, but we could be. We live in the shackles of sin and Jesus is the only one who can walk with us.

During this time in our church life, we focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Let us also focus on those around us who Jesus calls on us to remember; the others whose suffering and pain far outweigh anything we are enduing.

Prayer: For us, you are a Savior. For others, you remain a stranger. Our Lord, let us look beyond our own lives to enrich the lives of others, offering kindness and compassion in your name to those who do not know you. Amen.