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| Lenten Devotional
For the Week of February 17-23
Join us by following along and reading devotions written by our staff and church members from now until Easter Sunday. Each Wednesday we will send an email containing devotions for that week.
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Rev. Amy HowardWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th
You are dust, and to dust you shall return. -Genesis 3:19b
These traditional Ash Wednesday words are certainly not the most comforting, and in the last 11 months, one of the things we may have become the most aware of is the fragility of life. We have experienced first-hand how all we know of and hold close in this world can change in the blink of an eye. In all the years, this is most certainly not the one where we need to begin with a reminder that we are dust and one day to dust we will return. And yet perhaps, that is precisely the reminder we need.
For a few weeks, there was a noticeable haze over Tuscaloosa as though something large was on fire. After some research, I learned this haze was actually dust blowing our way all the way from West Texas due to strong winds ahead of a front. To me, it was mesmerizing to think that something so small and fine, could travel such a great distance and make a noticeable impact.
When we think of these historic words from Scripture, we often rephrase them to think of how God took what was once dead (dust) and made it come to life in creating us, but how one day, when we die, we will return once again to dust. Isn’t it amazing how we worship a God who can make life come from something that seems so lifeless? When that cloud of dust blew across the country it certainly did not seem so dead. There was a strong wind behind it, stirring it up. Honestly, dust would have been the last thing on the list of possibilities running through my mind, especially dust that traveled so far. It seems impossible, unfathomable.
But yet that same wind that blew that dead dust across the country is the same wind that breathed life into dust in the first place. As we enter into this season of reflection and repentance, I wonder how often we struggle to see the potential life in dust. I wonder what the “dustiness” is in our life, where all we see is death and cannot see the potential for life…maybe it is in a relationship, a career, or a passion. In whatever it might be, perhaps this is the season to stop
underestimating the power of the wind that blows, breathing life into situations that seem impossible.
Finally, I wonder if there is something to be said about how the text says, you are dust. Initially, we are told just a chapter before that God formed Adam out of dust. Then, in this verse, it doesn’t say, you were dust. It says you are dust. You have been created out of dust, and you are still dust even now, as you are living not by your own doing. Instead, you are living due to the breath of the wind filling your lungs. In such thought, no situation is hopeless. Our God is the God who breathes life into even dust.
Prayer:
God of All Creation, as we begin the journey of these 40 days, may we be reminded that in the midst of whatever it is we are facing, you are the God who works miracles. Help us to take these days seriously, as a gift of reflection, reconciliation, and refocusing so we can experience the full hope and joy of Resurrection anew. Renew our spirits, minds, and bodies throughout these days. Amen.
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Mike Case
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18th
…it has not yet been revealed what we will be. -1 John 3:2
Most of my life I have sought certainty or at least predictability. I believed preparation, planning and a commitment to execution would yield a satisfying level of control. I recognized that things don’t always turn out as planned but I sought them, nonetheless.
I was taught that it is good to have goals and honorable to commit myself to their pursuit. My goals were based on serving others and seeking the greater good for those I served, but in pursuing those goals I desired control and reliability.
I tried to minimize uncertainty because it stood in the way of success. I would forgo "the chance for good surprises to avoid the risk of bad surprises".
2020 was all about uncertainty. It awakened me to the reality that certainty is just an illusion. Things that make sense in normal times go out the window when nothing is predictable.
I realized that God purposely gives us "gracious uncertainty". To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. We are uncertain of the next steps, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. We are not uncertain of God, only uncertain of what He will do next. In that, we can find "joyous expectancy".
I have decided to trade my need to know what is next for the joy of not knowing.
There is a Yiddish joke: “Do you know how to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans."
It is in the middle that human choices are made; the beginning and the end remain with God. The decrees of God are birth and death, and in between those limits, man makes his own distress or joy.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I ask that each day, in every moment, I leave certainty and control to you. Help me focus on the process of loving You and leave the outcome to You. Help me trust that there is a path for me beyond that which I can see. Amen.
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Sandra ReedFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th
If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
-Philippians 2:1-2
My favorite word is joy. Ask any of my grandchildren and they will immediately respond, “Nan Nan’s favorite word is JOY!”
Joy is quite different from happiness. Happiness is often an issue of mind over matter, but true joy is a spiritual gift that comes through the grace of God.
Lent is our preparation for joy. It is a disciplined time when we root out the blindness that prevents us from seeing others as gifts from God. Lent is an invitation to honesty and clarity.
For many, Lent is a time of sacrifice and a time to reflect on our spiritual lives. It is a time to give something up or let something go. Generally, we emerge from Lent feeling closer to Jesus Christ. But consider how different this Lenten season would be if we tried to emulate Jesus by reaching out to other people, a time to do as much as possible to enrich the lives of others by asking nothing in return. How different would this Lenten season be if we found true joy?
Life is not just about you and me as individuals. It is about all of us. When I fall into selfish patterns I do not remember the needs of other people. I become concerned only about my interests. Jesus lived in a continuous mission to serve the Father by offering forgiveness and healing. He unselfishly sacrificed his life so that others could live in abundant joy.
During Lent, be mindful of ways to share the encouragement and comfort you have received from God. Practice the same tenderness and compassion Jesus has shown you. Experience true joy!
Prayer:
God of true joy, I thank you for your love and your example to be self-sacrificing to others. Please soften my heart and help me be a source of encouragement and compassion to those who are less fortunate. Amen.
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Laurie Copeland
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd
Reflections of My Father
As I approach this Lenten season, I begin to think about the importance of relationships in our lives. Whether it be with friends, family, or co-workers, these relationships are not only vital for our personal growth, but also contribute to our well-being.
In the course of a lifetime, relationships can influence us in positive or in negative ways. One of the most positive influences in my life was my father. I only had twelve short years with my father before he was taken from us at the age of 47. He was a man who worked two jobs to take care of our family. His main job was being a firefighter. He had a strong work ethic and loved to help people. He worked crazy hours and long shifts. Somehow, he always found a way to spend quality time with his little girl.
One of my most vivid memories was in 1977. There was a new movie coming out that my father couldn’t wait to see. That little movie was called Star Wars. We sat in the second row and watched this amazing film unfold. There were points in the movie when I was excited, scared, and just plain fascinated with the characters. After the movie, we went to Baskin-Robbins and got pistachio almond ice cream, which I still love to this day. We would then sit and talk about things that seemed to be unimportant at the time. The conversation centered around his love of Elvis' music, to the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, to how to make the best scrambled eggs. Those were great times.
To sustain and grow a relationship, like the one with my father, commitment, communication, and caring must be present. I have also learned that these same characteristics have to be applied when growing my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Lent is the time when we reflect and prepare for Easter. We remember the sacrifice God made in giving his son Jesus up for the sins of the world. As followers of Christ, we need to commit to spending time with Him by studying the Word and taking part in worship. By doing these things, we expand our knowledge and honor God. When we communicate with God through prayer, we can share our fears, our hopes, and our concerns. We must also listen to what God has to say to us. He will speak to us and reveal how he wants us to further His kingdom if we only listen.
Finally, we must seek to live a life of servanthood and caring for others. Just as Jesus did, we must follow his example and live a life beyond ourselves. No greater example is seen than in the thirteenth chapter of the book of John. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet. He said, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master.”
Take this time during Lent to focus on your relationship with the Lord. How can you strengthen this bond? How can you make time to know God’s plan for you? How can you serve others? If you are unsure, take some time to just sit and ask him. He is always there, ever watching, ever hoping that you will have that conversation.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Let us never forget your love for us. In turn, may we honor you by surrendering to your will. Your plans for us may not be our own, but we will trust in you. Amen.
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Morgan LancasterTUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -Matthew 6:26
While the world has always been upside down, I sure have felt the effects of it in the last year. And to be honest, I haven’t done the best job of living right side up. The stress that the last year has brought has made me want to bury my head in the sand, hide from my emotions, and ultimately, hide from God.
But for some reason—despite how much I didn’t deserve it—God still carried me through. He provided for me on the days I forgot about him. He showed his care for me in my weakest moments. He reminded me that he missed me on the days I just didn’t feel like acknowledging him.
There wasn’t a single day, a single moment, that he stopped loving me. When I found myself surrendering to Him and seeking His kingdom, I felt the peace that I know, but sometimes forget, He always gives. Every day I came back to Him, and He welcomed me with open arms. Because that’s just who he is. He is our loving Father. He wants to care for us. We just have to remember to let him.
Prayer:
God, thank you for always calling us back to you when life is too much to handle. Thank you for sending your Son so that we can have a direct relationship with you. Please don’t let us take that for granted, even when life gets tough. Amen.
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Lenten Sermon SeriesJoin us for our Lenten sermon series in The Bridge and Traditions Worship, Upside Down: Turning the World Upside Down by Living Rightside Up. If you are unable to attend in person, as always, follow us online and on our Facebook and YouTube pages. Visit our website below for additional Easter and Lenten season information.
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