Lent 2014 - March 27

MARCH 27 – Hosea 6:1-6
By: Diane Bechtold

1 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like the dew that goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

What a perfect contrast between the capriciousness of humanity and the steadfast love of God. Hosea exhorts repentance so that there can be restoration to a rightness with the God who raises us up. This is a God who wants a relationship in which we can be close and share love that is freely given. Repentance means not just “feeling” sorry, but making new actions into the future. Let those new actions bring us closer to the heart of God.

Prayer
Loving God, We pray that we not stray far so that we can receive your love and reflect it to others. Amen.

Lent 2014 - March 13

MARCH 13 – Luke 6:35-38
By: Cheryl Cornelius

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”



These verses are very clear if we are willing to follow them. It is not easy to do what the “world”
says is unwise, foolish or even dangerous. But Jesus has a higher calling for us. Jesus wants us to make the world better and to not answer to the status quo. These verses, though not easy, give us very explicit directions on how to do just that. We just have to be willing!

Prayer
Lord help me to love my enemies, show me where to give without expecting anything in return, and let me not to judge others. Amen

Lent 2014 - March 12

MARCH 12 – Ezekiel 18: 21-32
By: Char Klima

“Turn, then, and live.” This should sound very familiar. Once again God is pleading with His people (that’s all of us) to turn toward Him and embrace His ways that lead to abundant living. In this text it  is framed in the Old Testament concept of sin and punishment. Nevertheless, God repeats over and over that He takes no pleasure in anyone dying or being cast away from His presence. Get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, God urges. Live in My light instead of your darkness.

When Jesus comes on the scene, He takes every opportunity to invite us to live our lives in ways that bring us peace and fulfillment. Stop pursuing false and worldly values that lead to dead ends and can never satisfy. God loves us; He knows what will ultimately give us LIFE! Turn to Him and really  Live!

Prayer
Precious Lord: Help us to turn to you with an open heart and listening ear. Keep urging us to accept what you freely give-the living water from your well that never runs dry. Amen.

Lent 2014 - March 11

MARCH 11 – Matthew 7:7-11
By: Jeanette Nation

Ask, Search, Knock

7 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

Use this time of the Lenten season to learn about the invitations God has revealed to us…”ask and it will be given”. These commonly used verses remind us that God will listen to all. We may well be dumb enough to ask for the rocks and the snakes but then God gives us bread and fish anyway. We need not worry that God will punish us for praying wrongly!

Pray boldly and with perseverance and doors will open. What an amazing thought that His promises in Heaven are far better. We have the gift of knowing, through Jesus Christ, that our relationship  begins now… each time we pray.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for hearing my prayers and revealing your promises through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lent 2014 - March 10

MARCH 10 – Matthew 25:34-36
By: Cyd Law

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

This passage reminds me that I am the hands and feet of Jesus and if anything is going to get done in the fight against hunger, homelessness, injustice, and sickness I have to step up to the plate and take action. That is a scary thought and for many years I just sat on the sidelines and watched others do the work. I gave some money here and there to help out but I always said I was too busy to actually do something myself. Then a friend asked me if I could help him deliver bread from a little bakery in Casselberry to the homeless shelters in downtown Orlando. Well what was supposed to be only when he needed help has turned into an every other week volunteer job. But I love it. I have met so many wonderful people all being the hands and feet of Jesus. My challenge to you is become the hands and
feet of Jesus and actively search for things you can do to make our world a little more Christ like.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Open my eyes so I can see the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the sick and the injustice in this world. Give me the strength to stand up and make a difference as I want to be your hands and feet. Amen.

Ash Wednesday - March 5

March 5 - Joel 2:12-13
By: Barbara Reynolds

The book of Joel begins with the analogy of a massive swarm of locust marching on the land of Israel, devouring everything in its path. The people watch as the land is stripped of all vegetation by
huge insects resembling advancing war horses without riders.

There appears to be no hope. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart and with fasting, weeping, and mourning and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil.”

In our present age we are still assaulted by hoards of advancing locust that march on many lands and strip them of all promise of a better tomorrow. The message remains the same...”Return to Me. Repent. Rend your hearts and the love of God, which is far above human understanding will have compassion on His creation.”

Prayer
Today’s world seems to be under siege by advancing evil. Children never know peace, a full belly, a warm bed. Parents are unable to provide the bare minimum for survival as the devouring swarm of locust descend on them daily. Help us in our time of need. Help us to return to You praying that You will always have compassion on Your creation.