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Together
Read: 1 Corinthians 14:26
As I learned to recite the creeds in church, I noticed that no matter
how hard I tried to be ready, more than half the time I couldn't pick up
on the right cue and missed the first two words: I believe. I also
realized, in my confirmand wisdom, that if I didn't say, "I
believe," the rest of the creed became just a recitation of fact.
Almost anyone could say it. The whole point, it seemed to me, was
"I believe."
I am happy to be a member of a church where I no longer have to fret.
My pastor has a solution to the dilemma: Before we recite the creed he
says, "Together..." and we all know when to start. It's a
beautiful introduction to the creed and recognizes its importance in the
church throughout history. Together we are the church. Together,
worldwide, we confess our faith in God our Father, Jesus Christ His Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Together we worship our saving Lord and go forth to
share the Good News.
Together is a beautiful word for the church, because it is the sum
and substance of our worship: unity. We may have different jobs, family
life, backgrounds, tastes, cultures. But on this day, at this time, in
this place we are together. Together, this Lent, we turn our eyes to the
cross and Christ's sacrifice. Together we believe.
Prayer: As we gather together today, dearest Father, unite us as
Your children. Amen
Response: Say the Nicene Creed every morning this week.
God's Valentine
Read: 1 John 3:1
We had just taken the junior high kids home after Bible Club when I
found a stray piece of paper on our front porch. I recognized the
handwriting of Lisa, one of the girls. It was a handwritten list titled
"My Best Friends." At the top of the list: "God."
Lisa's parents struggled to make ends meet. They lived in a tiny
house. Though surrounded by poverty, Lisa was rich in faith, counting
God as her best friend.
This Valentine's Day, we can celebrate God's great love in Christ
Jesus. Unlike traditional valentine exchanges, God's
"Valentine" is for each of us. His love is everlasting (see
Psalm 103:17) and endures forever (see Psalm 107:1). His love is so
great it reaches to the heavens (see Psalm 57:10) and so powerful that
it never fails (see Psalm 52:8).
Jesus Christ made God's love visible as He walked to Calvary to carry
our sins. As we meditate on His suffering for our sake, we see Love so
powerful it even overcomes death (see John 3:16).
Our world does not often acknowledge those in Lisa's circumstances,
but God's love, without boundary or limit, loves her—and us—with a
rich (see Psalm 145:8) and priceless love (see Psalm 36:7).
Prayer: O Wondrous Love, stretch our hearts of love toward all
people. In Jesus we pray. Amen.
Response: Send a valentine with God's loving words to someone.
Fasting
Read: Titus 2:11-13
I was driving on a rural road when a car pulled out of nowhere right in
front of me. I had to brake hard to avoid it. I looked around: no car was
coming. Why didn't the driver pull out after I passed? Why didn't he show
common courtesy?
Every Lent I resolve to give up chocolate, rarely with success. Forty
days is a long time to go without my favorite treat, though I feel guilty
about such a trivial weakness. This Lent I resolved to tackle other
"Cs" in my Lenten fast. The first: Car Crankiness. I would stop
fuming over drivers who turn without signaling, sit through a green light,
or swerve through traffic. I would also fast from the other "Cs"
of criticism and complaining.
Cranky critical complaining mars my faith walk, causing me to stumble—offending
God and others. These three C's obstruct my spiritual growth and my witness.
Bad habits—as natural as three meals a day—are not easy to give up.
Daily I call on Christ's redemptive power to help me shove out sin so the
spiritual person can shine, even on the highway.
Prayer: Forgive my offensive behavior, Holy God, and help me build my
"muscles" of self-control. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Response: What behavior can you "fast" this Lent?
Remembering Baptism
Read: Romans 6:4
I come from generations of early risers. I love mornings: the quiet
freshness of a new day, the darkness growing into light. I love morning
rituals: making coffee, feeding the birds, reading the paper, walking the
dog, studying the Bible. Too many mornings, though, I get distracted, time
flies, and I have to leave something out. Usually it's my Bible Study.
"I'll get to it later," I think. But I don't.
My Lenten resolutions, to "fast" non-Christ-like behaviors,
happen only with an equally large "feast" of the Word. Just as I
need to commit to changing offensive behavior, I need to commit to growing
in my faith and the fruits of faith.
Lent can be a time to reflect on our own baptisms and what it means to
live as God's children. Martin Luther says baptism is "a daily garment
to wear all the time." Every day we should be found "in faith and
its fruits, suppressing the old and growing the new." Saved by God's
mercy, I seek His Holy Spirit to help me turn my thoughts away from the
world toward Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.
Daily commitment means changing my morning routine: feeding my soul
before the birds, walking with the Lord before my dog, reading my Bible
before the daily news. My prayer is that His Good News will be on my lips,
in my heart, and in my deeds.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your compassions are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness. Amen.
Response: How can you put God first today?
Lessons at the Track
Read: Colossians
2:6-7
My office is just a half mile from home. However, between my office and
my house are railroad tracks. Frequently, I get stopped by a passing freight
train. Usually, I am running late. Always, I am frustrated by the delay.
Continuing my Lenten commitment to curb car crankiness, however, I
decided it was time for a new response. Instead of complaining, I would
count my blessings, naming them one by one, with each passing car. My first
try I ran out of "blessings" long before I ran out of railroad
cars. I came to realize that my habit of complaining had robbed me of joy.
Every day I am indebted to God my Savior, whose mercy is new every morning,
whose love never ends, and whose transforming power is always within reach.
Every day I experience multitudes of blessings, even if I can't feel or see
them.
I've had many more train interruptions to pursue my Lenten promise. I
found faster trains required quick sentence prayers of thanks—forgiveness,
salvation, the Gospel, Jesus Christ, flowers, meaningful work. Slower trains
let me reflect a bit longer on each gift God has given me, an undeserving
sinner. As I have more days to work on this discipline, I look forward to
practicing my thankfulness to God for His overwhelming generosity in His
Son. I look forward to the day when the train is long gone, and I'm still
counting my blessings.
Prayer: Loving Father, help me give thanks in all circumstances for
this is Your will for me in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Response: Name your blessings one by one.
New Every Day
Read: 1 Peter 1:23
Willie Mae, 72, has one dream: learning to read. Willie worked in the
cotton fields from the age of eight. With long seasons of planting and
harvesting she never finished school, her family desperately trying to
survive as sharecroppers. But many years later, she wants to open the most
important book she owns and read it. "I go to church Sundays,"
says Willie Mae, "but I need regular time with God."
In an age when Bibles are available in hundreds of versions, languages,
and motel rooms, it can be difficult to remember the magnificent gift Martin
Luther's work of translation gave the world. While we reflect on the
renowned reformer, it is good to remember his gift of the Bible—in the
people's language. In Luther's time, lay people, literate or not, did not
own Bibles. The Word was read only at church (and in Latin).
For Luther, torn by his sinfulness, God's Holy Word was the only way to
salvation: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no
one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
During Lent, I commit myself to Willie Mae's determination and Martin
Luther's dedication to the Bible for Luther was determined to get God's Word
to the people: "Nothing is more effectual against the devil, the world,
the flesh, and all evil thoughts, than to occupy oneself [daily] with the
Word of God."
Prayer: "May Christ our Lord help us by His Spirit to love and
honor His holy Word with all our hearts. Amen. (Martin Luther)
Response: Memorize Luther's faith verse: Ephesians 2:8-9.
Speak No Evil
Read: Ephesians
4:31-32
A co-worker with seniority gave me information for a report I was doing.
It was poorly thought out, full of misspellings, and incomplete. I
ranted about it for over 50 minutes; correcting it took about five.
Suddenly I heard my parents' admonition: "If you can't say
something nice about someone, don't say anything at all."
As a child, I never understood how "not saying anything at
all" could be helpful or realistic. Now I am beginning to see the
value of silence. James writes that the tongue is "a fire, a world
of evil" (3:6), saying, "if anyone considers himself religious
and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself
and his religion is worthless" (1: 26).
As part of my Lenten resolve to give up criticism, I decided to put a
rein on my tongue. It was hard! I had to stop before speaking, realizing
that my opinion did not always need to be shared. I had to practice
saying something positive, even when my critical eye saw negative.
While my own standards might be high, God's are higher. Even on the
road to Calvary, Jesus showed love to His confused disciples (see Mark
9:30-32). My Lord always is compassionate toward me, a miserable sinner.
I know my own efforts will fail. But empowered by the Holy Spirit, I can
practice daily putting on Christ's "clothing of compassion"
(see Colossians 3:12-14).
Prayer: May my tongue … and actions … always confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.
Response: Say something kind about someone with whom you are
having difficulty.
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