Lament

    I still remember the first time I really felt the need to lament. I was working as a chaplain and one of the patients I had been visiting several times a week passed away. It felt like my heart was breaking. All I wanted to do was cry out to God. In fact, I believe my tears held a deeper question of why this person, why now, why God?
    We all need space in our life to lament. I think one of the great tragedies of the American church is that we have bought into this very unBiblical lie that if we truly trust in and believe in God then we won't lament. But the truth is under the thin veneer of smiles and unwavering faith, lies the truth. We all need to lament. And in order to lament you need to trust firmly in God in the first place.
    Lament helps bring healing to our broken hearts. So let us join together in songs of lament for that which we held dear.

Lament - Habakkuk 1 Devo

January 28th, 2018

Devotional

“Lament” -Habakkuk 1

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “How Long” - Hab. 1: 1-3

“O Lord, how long should I cry for help?” A few weeks ago we talked about the essential prayer of help - when we admit to the Lord that w are over our head and in need.But this cry of the prophet Habakkuk is a special type of prayer - a prayer or cry of lament. 

Lament happens when we are so deeply troubled or grieved by the circumstances in our life or in the world around us that we are at a place where we almost lack words. In the translation of the Bible I am using to prepare this devotional, there is an inaccuracy in summarizing this section of scripture as “The Prophet’s Complaint”. Lament, while it may sound like complaining, is actually a spiritually exercise. We see lament time and time again in the Psalms and in the images of people tearing their clothes in distress. 

There are times in our life when we need the spiritual exercise of lament. When we simply lay ourselves out before the Lord and ask “how long?” Let us reclaim the space in our lives for lament this week, and beyond. 

What brings you to your knees in prayer when all you can ask is “how long, O Lord?”

What does lament look like your life?

Prayer: Jesus, we have bought into the unscriptural lie, that we need to be happy at all times if we know you as Lord and Savior. We confess today that isn’t always authentic to how we feel, and instead of bringing our distress to you in prayer we have tried to sweep it under the rug. Forgive us, O Lord, and help us to reclaim the spiritual necessity of honestly lamenting to you. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Law and Justice” - Hab. 1: 4

In the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, there was a different understanding of law and justice then what we have today. For the Jewish people, the law was the basis of faith. For them, they can trace the foundation of their faith in God to receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Siani after God rescued them from Egyptian oppression. As the cross is central to our faith as Christians, so was the law central to faith in the Old Testament. 

With this understanding, we find the Prophet asking today why the law has become slack and why justice never prevails. He is essentially asking why that which is central to his life of faith seems to be failing. This is equivalent to us asking “why God?” Or “where were you God?” When we experience difficult times. 

To which God did answer and still does answer, that God was with His people the entire time. Even when we cannot perceive it. Even when it seems like the wicked is prospering. We are called to wait upon the Lord and trust that God is right beside us the entire time. 

How do you respond when you are going through a difficult time?

What is foundational to your life? How do you respond when your foundation is shaken?

Prayer: Lord, help us to trust and believe, not just in our head, but in our hearts, that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Even when it seems like everything around us may be crumbling, may we trust and believe that you are walking right beside us. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Justice and Injustice” - Hab 1: 5-11

While it is difficult to date exactly when Habakkuk received this prophecy from God/ when it was written it is believed that Habakkuk lived during the time of Assyrian oppression of the Hebrew people. A time when justice seemed lacking and injustice reigned.This section of scripture seems to be talking about all of the ways other nations are getting ahead by oppression. Some scripture translations have a section heading that reads “The Lord’s Reply” starting at verse 5. Why would the Lord point out the many ways that the Hebrews are being oppressed? Why would he be telling the prophet that these people are god-less, relying on their own might? Where is the hope in such statement?

God is reminding the prophet that while it looks like those who are oppressing them are getting ahead (winning if you will) by the world’s standards, they will eventually falter because they are relying on the wrong thing. Sometimes in our lives, when it seems like people are prospering by evil, it is hard to remember that the righteous will eventually persevere and it is even harder to be patient in the face of such oppression. 

What is some of the evil you see around you in the world today? How do you remind yourself that God will persevere over injustice? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you are in control. We confess that sometimes it is hard to remember that in the face of oppression abounding. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to trust you more surely and work for your Kingdom more passionately. Amen. 

Thursday: “Holy God” - Hab 1: 12-15

Since sin entered into human history in Genesis 3, there have been people who have strayed from God in this world. Some have repentant hearts, others do not. The Prophet seems to indicate in this section of scripture that those oppressing the Hebrew people are the later - unrepentant before God, so God will surely judge them.

Sometimes it is hard to know the hearts of other people. Hard to know if they are repentant or unrepentant. But we do know our God - our God is a Holy God who cannot look upon evil or wrongdoing without it breaking the very heart of God. 

While the Prophet does not explicitly say this, as Christians we believe that we are to pray for our enemies - pray that they turn away from sin and restore their relationship with God. At times that is the hardest prayer that we will ever have to pray, especially when people are hurting us. Yet, we cannot let others injustice lead us to act in sinful ways that distance us from a Holy God. 

Do you find it easy or difficult to pray for your enemies? Why?

How can the sin of others lead us into sin as well? What spiritual disciplines can we engage in to prevent this? 

Prayer: Lord, we ask for a hedge of protection around us this day. Not just a hedge that protects us from evil, but protection in our own responses to evil as well. Lead us not into temptation. Let us not repay evil with evil. Let us approach each situation and person with the mind and heart of Christ while still seeking transformation of circumstances we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “The Enemy” -  Hab 1: 15-17

The image found in this section of Habakkuk is of the enemy fishing and having a large harvest for injustice. At times in our lives it may feel just like this. It may feel like all we can see around us injustice, of people and nations being destroyed without mercy.

But this is not the end of the story. While this is not a positive note to ended the first chapter of Habakkuk on, it is not the end of what the prophet has to share with the people either. As Christians we believe in a Savior who defeated not only the grave, but death as well. A Savior who did not let evil triumph or have the last word. May we cling to the cross and the hope that it offers, especially during times when it seems like injustice reigns, and it is hard to perceive the light in the midst of the chaos and darkness. 

How does the cross give you hope even in the midst of dark and troubling times? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you this day for the cross. We thank you that you defeated evil. That you offer us hope, both in this world and in the world to come. Use us to share this message of life and life abundantly with a broken world. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Habakkuk: God Answers” - Habakkuk 2 

Family Activity: Sometimes we have bad days. How can we bring our bad days to God in prayer? How do you think God answers when we tell him about your troubles and hurts? 

Essential Prayers: Wow

    Back in the Fall my parents and I went to the beach. My mom took a lot of pictures. A lot. Most of them of scenery. We share an online photo album as a family and my dad was commenting on the amount of nature pictures. I loved them! Each new picture showed the sun at a slightly different angle; the waves coming in at a different pace and cresting on the shore.
    My mom taking those pictures was an expression of her "wow" moments. Seeing God's hand at work in the beauty of nature around them, and we as a family had the blessing of sharing those photos together.
   Where are the places that you have "wow" moments and how do you share them with those that you love? How do you praise God together in ways that are meaningful to you? How do you simply praise God for being God?

Essential Prayers: Wow - Psalm 98 Devo

January 21st, 2018

Devotional

“Essential Prayers: Wow” - Psalm 98

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Marvelous Things” - Psalm 98:1 

At first glance, sometimes we can think that there isn’t much difference between prayers of “thanks” and “wow” - prayers of thanksgiving and amazement. However, they are different things. 

There are many different ways to pray, but one popular method that is taught is A.C.T.S. - adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Even in this method the “wow” of adoration is separated from the “thank you” of thanksgiving. What is the difference?

Adoration is when we praise God. If anyone is worthy of our affection and praise it is God, for in the words of todays Psalmist, God has done marvelous things. God has done awesome things, but God is also simply worthy of our praise for being God. In contrast, thanksgiving, is an intentional time to say thank you for what God has done and for us to express our gratitude. 

Do you find yourself expressing both adoration and Thanksgiving in your prayer life?

How are adoration and thanksgiving connected for you? How are they different? 

Prayer: God, we want to take time this week to stand amazed in your presence. To adore you for simply being God. Lord, we ask that you open up our hearts and fill them with praise for you, again and again. In the mighty name of our Lord, Jesus, we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Revealed His Righteousness” - Psalm 98: 2-3

We all have different places in our life when we feel the presence of God with us. Different places where we stand amazed at the presence of our Creator. For me, most often those places are in nature. When I am out amongst God’s creation, whether in be at camp, or hiking on the trails in the area, or watching the sun set at the beach, I am amazed that God created all of this. That God had the imagination to think certain flowers and colors into being. 

The problem we face over time, if we do not foster a sense of continual amazement, is that we become desensitized to the beauty around us. We no longer take time to notice the intricacies of creation or we simply drive right past, hurrying to get to our next location.

Take time today to be in the places where you are amazed by God. Take time to slow down and appreciate what God has created and praise God for the overwhelming sense of awe you feel. 

Where are the places you are amazed by God?

When are the times in your life that you battle feeling desensitized to the awe you have in God? How can you take steps to reclaim this sense of amazement?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes in the hustle and bustle of daily life, we find ourselves no longer as amazed at you, Precious Lord. We also confess that as our sense of amazement fades, so does our focus on praising you. Help us recapture that sense of awe this day, Lord. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Shout for Joy” - Psalm 98:4-6

We all have different ways that we praise God. It took me a while to realize this truth of our faith. It wasn’t until I was in college and was in a worship service where different people were encouraged to express their adoration towards God however they felt led, that I saw the true beauty of praise. Little children waved prayer ribbons. People sang their heart out. Others sat in silence and prayer. Some played tambourines. Others had different instruments. No one was told how they should praise God, it was simply what felt right to them in their heart.

Sometimes we get in a rut with our worship of God. We find ourselves making comments about how things “should” be, when really such statements simply reflect our personal preferences. The Psalmist today shows the many dimensions of praise - shouting, bursting into song, making music. None of it is better than the other or more correct than the next action. We are simply to let our heart praise God!

What ways do you find yourself praising God most often?

What different ways have you praised God over the years?

Prayer: Lord, today we ask that you break open any hardness that may in our heart around praising you. Help us to set aside any thoughts of how we ought or ought not to praise, and instead simply let our heart deeply connect with you. Amen!

Thursday: “Resound…Clap…Sing” - Psalm 98: 7-8

In scripture we are told that if we fail to praise God, then even the earth will respond in praise. But this particular Psalm words this differently, that the earth doesn’t respond in praise if we fail to, rather that the whole earth joins us in praising God.

Perhaps one of the closest things we have in our human world to seeing the totality of the earth praise God is small children. I have two small nieces and one nephew. The girls love to dance. Nothing brings my heart such joy as watching them dance to music, clap their hands, and express their pure delight at what is going on around them.

Something similar I think happens in creation. Creation praises God because it was created to praise God. It responds in joy and pure delight. The trouble comes as adults when that joy starts to fade away. We don’t respond in pure delight to God as often. Let us reclaim having the child like wonder in our heart again this day. 

How do you delight in God?

What does child like wonder look like in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that some where along the way, we have set aside our child like wonder. We start to be people who claim to know more about you then we actually do and ask questions less. We let thoughts of how we ought to act replace responding in utter delight. Forgive us, O Lord, and help us claim such joy again in our lives. 

Friday: “Judge” - Psalm 98:9

After a psalm filled with praise, we find an interesting ending, where the Psalmist speaks of God coming to judge the world in righteousness. That doesn’t seem like the happiest ending to a Psalm of praise. But part of the reason that we adore God for being God, is that God is the Righteous Judge over us and over the entire earth. We don’t like to think about that fact, or talk about it too often. And if we do talk about God as Judge it is often in identifying the other people that God will judge, those who are not like us.

However, God is coming to judge the whole earth. How would God respond if he judged me? If he judged you? Are our hearts in a state of praise towards God? Do we give God the respect, honor, and praise that he is due? Or do we live our lives as if God is absent? Let us examine our hearts this day. 

How do you think God would respond if he judged your life today? What would you want to change? What would you want to continue? 

How does your life glorify God?

Prayer: Lord, we know that you are the great judge. We ask, as you examine our hearts this day, that you point out to us the places we may be blind to. Those areas where you want to draw us closer to yourself. Reveal your heart to us, Lord, so our hearts can respond in return. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Habakkuk - Complaining Hearts” - Hab. 1 

Family Activity: Make a praise chain. Write down the things you want to praise God for on slips of paper and connect them on a paper chain. How long can you make your chain? How much do you have to praise God for? 

“Essential Prayers: Thanks”

   Have you ever noticed that thankful people seem to be more pleasant to be around? At least in my own life, I find that folks that complain a whole lot tend to have a different out look on life than those that are thankful, and sometimes that out look can express itself through comments or attitudes that aren't always pleasant to be around. In contrast, thankful people, especially those who can be thankful in all circumstances, seem to be uplifting in their words and offer more grace through their attitudes and actions.

   I don't know about you, but I want to be a thankful person. A person who is filled with the joy of God, not just when everything is going well, but when their are challenges as well. And I believe the root of such joy can be found in the anchor of my prayer life. I want to thank God at all times and in all places, not just for the blessings God has bestowed, but also for who God is.
 
   May our prayer lives be so overflowing with thankfulness that it be expressed in our daily lives! Amen!

“Essential Prayers: Thanks” - Psalm 95: 1-6 Devo

January 14th, 2018

Devotional 

“Essential Prayers: Thanks” - Psalm 95: 1-6

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Sing for Joy” - Psalm 95: 1

I think many of us have heard the statement to “give thanks in all circumstances”, but what does that really mean? At times it seems hard for us to be thankful - perhaps when facing a difficult diagnosis or troubling circumstances at work or at home. What does it look like to be thankful at all times and in all places.

The psalmist gives us a clue today in the admonishment to sing for joy. Joy is different than happiness. Joy is based off of our inner landscape, our soul’s relationship to God. Happiness is often based off of external circumstances - what is going on around us. Therefore, in instructing us to sing with joy, I believe the Psalmist is instructing us to go deep within ourselves and thank God, not for our external circumstances, but for the very ability our soul has to be in relationship with the Divine. When we are deeply rooted in that type of joy, it is easier to be thankful in all circumstances. 

What are some differences between happiness and joy in your own life? Do you find yourself relying on one more than the other?

How are joy and thanksgiving connected? 

Prayer: Loving God, we take time today to simply say thank you. Lord, often we thank you for the things going around us - which is certainly appropriate for you are in all and through all. But Lord, we thank you today for simply being Lord of our Lives. For being our most important relationship. For being our Savior. Thank you, Precious Lord, for who you are. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Extol Him” - Psalm 95: 2

When you look up the word ‘extol’ in the dictionary you find something like this. Verb. To highly praise; laud; eulogize. What can we learn from such a definition. First, extol is something that we do. Its an action. Second, it is an action of lifting someone up - giving them praise. So what does this mean in our relationship with God?

Often we say in worship that God is worthy of all of our honor, glory, and praise. And those words are foundational true in our faith life. But I have to wonder if we live our daily lives as if God is worthy of all our honor, glory, and praise. Take time to think about your prayer life - do you spend time in prayer extolling God or is that praise usually absent in your communication with God? Do you tell others about what a Mighty God you serve, or do you keep your faith life private? 

Thanksgiving and extolling go hand in hand. Both involve praise in action. Let us live out lives this week, and always, in a way the lift God’s name on high. 

Do you extol God in prayer? Why or why not? 

Write down a time that you praise God for - any time in your life. Have you shared this story with others? Why or why not?

Prayer:  Lord, we want to be people who extol you - who bless your mighty name. But we confess Lord, that sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives, that we do not widen the scope of our vision to praise you and give you thank. Lord, forgive us for the times that we have only asked for things and have not blessed you. For the times we have complained more than we have extolled. In Jesus’s mighty name we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Lord is the Great God” - Psalm 95: 3

There are certain words in the English language that seem to get tossed around a lot. Words such as love. We may say that we love ice cream, when what we really mean is that we like ice cream. Or we say that someone or something is great, when what we may mean good. When we default to choosing such words they seem to lose some of their power when we encounter them in scriptures such as this one today.

But God truly is great. No one and no thing has more power than God. No one and no thing has more love than God. No one or no thing has more compassion, mercy, and grace than God. The list goes on and on. There is truly none that compare to God, and that alone should lead us into a state of praise. A state where we can say thank you to God. 

I grew up with parents who were big on us writing thank yous. Its a life lesson that I carry on to this very day. When I receive a gift, before I take off all of the plastic wrapping or start to use it, I write a thank you, expressing my gratitude. What if we did the same thing with God? What if our first reaction to God’s good gifts for us was to say thank you? To state with all certainty in our hearts that God is great? How could such intentionality change our lives and the lives of those around us? 

How often do you find yourself thanking God?

In what ways is God great?

Prayer: Lord, we proclaim today, with all we are and with all that we have that you are the greatest. You are above all earthly rules. Above all that life may bring our way. Receive our adoration, Lord, as a sign of thanksgiving. Amen. 

Thursday: “Belong to Him” - Psalm 95: 4-5

In Western culture we have a strong since of ownership. Who owns what? Is that yours or is it mine?  But sometimes we can get so caught up in the Western concept of ownership, that we gloss right over the Christian concept of ownership. For we believe, as Christians, that we actually do not own anything. Instead, it is all God’s which has been entrusted to us as stewards. 

The Psalmist clearly states this spiritual value around ownership today as he invites to remember that God made all and all truly belongs to God. He imagined it into being. His hands crafted it out of the depths.

When we get so caught up in the Western concept of ownership it can be hard for us to be thankful at times. We start to function out of a mindset of scarcity instead of a mindset of abundance. But when we shift our perspective to see that all we have is actually God’s which we are watching over, we can be filled once again with thankfulness for what God has blessed us with. 

Do you find yourself functioning more often out a mindset of scarcity or a mindset of abundance? Why?

Prayer: Lord, help us to reclaim the central truth to our spiritual lives that we are simply stewards of what you have entrusted to us. Let us be stewards that are thankful for your many blessings. Amen. 

Friday: “Bow Down” - Psalm 95:6

There are many ways to say Thank You to God. Think about our human relationships - there are many ways to express our gratitude for another person as well. Some people say thank you. Others write thank you. Still others have kind gestures that they do in return. The same is true in our relationship with God.

The Psalmist speaks of one very specific way today to show our gratitude - to bow down. When we bow down it is a sign of humility and awe. A sign acknowledging that God is in control. A promise that we will submit to God’s will and way in our lives because we utterly trust God. 

There are many ways to express our thankfulness, not simply bowing. But we are called to be a thankful people, filled with awe, humble hearts, and lives of praise. 

What are some ways that you can express your thanks to God this week? 

Prayer: God, we simply say thank you today. Thank you for what you blessed us with. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for trusting us to be part of this great mission you have to reach all people with your truth, grace, and love. Thank you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Essential Prayers: Wow” - Psalm 98. 

Family Activity: Take an old jar and some scraps of paper. Write down the things that you are thankful for on the pieces of paper, fold them, and place them in the jar. As you find more things you are thankful for continue to add them to the jar. At some point, either when you need a reminder of God’s goodness or at a planned time, take the slips of paper out of the jar and read them with thankful hearts. 

"Essental Prayers: Help"

        I am a planner. I love to make lists upon lists both more my daily life and when I travel, hoping that the lists will help prevent any dangers that can arise out of uncertainty. So when I went with Drew and the Greater New Jersey Conference on a pilgrimage to Taize, the hardest part of the trip was relquinishing control to someone else – a leader who I didn’t even know. At one point this leader asked for our passports to keep in safe keeping – which I fought with every ounce of my being because it went against the basic travel rules I had been taught as a teenager. But more then that it was literally handing my ability to leave to someone else, essentially tethering me to him so I could leave France. While there are many beautiful things about Taize and I find something new from the experience being applied to my life post-pilgrimage every day, the biggest lesson I learned, the lesson I’m still wrestling with was about control. This is something I continually need to confess before God and ask for help with. 

Are we learning to trust God and each other more? Do those times when we cry out to God for "help" like my pilgrimage to Taize really shining a light on how independent we are and fearful to relinquish control to either others or God? Are we really looking for our help to come from the Lord or is this something that we can do on our own? 

       Let us find those dark and deep places in our lives where we need to ask God for help and hand them over to God's hands for redemption. 

“Essential Prayers: Help” - Psalm 121 and Phil 4: 4-7 Devo

January 7th, 2018

Devotional

“Essential Prayers: Help” - Psalm 121 and Phil 4: 4-7

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Help” - Psalm 121: 1-2

My guess is that from time to time, we all get into situations where we need help. Sometimes it relatively simple things - I’m short, so I often need help getting things off of higher selves in stores. Other times its may be a bit more involved, like help solving a problem. Still other times it may be the type of help the Psalmist is speaking about - help that is beyond anything another human can offer, help that can only come from God.

But for some people asking God for help isn’t a natural thing. Think about the people you ask for help when things are complicated - they are often people that you know and trust. In order to be in a place where we can ask God for help, we need to have a relationship with God and believe that God is able to answer our cries and has our best interest at heart. For the Psalmist the reminder of God’s trustworthiness comes in the statement of what God has done in the past - made heaven and earth.

Do you have the type of relationship where you can ask God for help? Do you know that God is able? Do you trust God to provide? May we seek the help of God this week. 

Tell of a time when you cried out to God for help. What happened?

How does remembering how God has acted in the past help you to pray to God in the present?

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for being the One we can trust in all times and circumstances. Lord, we pray today, that you help us lean on you in times of need. To lean on you to provide, even if we are not fully aware of what to ask for. Help us we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Slip” - Psalm 121: 3-4

Psalm 121 is labeled as a song of ascent – a text crafted and sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. There were several times a year when people were to make this journey to celebrate feasts together, in community. For many the journey was also made in community – as it was dangerous to travel long distances alone. Oh what we have to learn about daily living and pilgrimage from our ancestors in the Hebrew Scriptures. We need each other to not only travel together to reach our destination safely, but to simply survive each day.

When I think back on the times in my life when I’ve gotten myself in the most trouble, it’s been times when I have wandered. Sometimes this was actual physical wandering. Other times it is a mental wandering. And yet others it is a spiritual wandering. 

The Psalmist is reminding us that God will never be the One who causes us to go astray. Instead, God is the One who keeps our foot from slipping. God watches over us day and night, never slumbering in that vigilance. That watchfulness and faithfulness towards us is part of what makes God worthy to be called upon in times of need. 

Tell of a time in your life when you wandering has gotten you into trouble. What type of wandering was it? How did you draw back to God?

Prayer:  Lord, we confess that sometimes we are not nearly as faithful to you as you are towards us. We confess that we have wandered away from you in so may ways. Forgive us, O Lord. Restore us. Be our constant help in times of need, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Lord Watches” - Psalm 121: 5-6

We do not journey without God’s presence. In fact, as the Psalmist reminds us, God is constantly present. Such complexities are what the psalmist seems to be rejoicing in with today’s text. God is the creator of the world, everything from the sky to the tangible soil, yet the Holy One cares about the single footsteps of the Psalmist. Providing shelter when it is needed along the journey, providing sustenance for this pilgrimage of life. Going before us when we set our sites towards something bigger then ourselves, and comes back with us when we return to share our experience with others. It all is just beyond our grasp. 

Lest we think that this psalm is alluding to an easy journey, we have to remember what the pilgrimage to Jerusalem would have been like – depending on where you were coming from you could cross mountains and valleys, and trek through dry areas that didn’t support life. There had to be moments when the pilgrims would think that they were almost there – had almost reached their destination, only to find that yet another mountain lay ahead of them. Along the way there could be times where provision seemed to be absent, where the people feared strangers, and there was the real reality of harm.  We need God’s abiding presence to even be able to take the first step on the journey of faith.

How do you sense God’s presence with you? 

At what times and in what places are you more attuned to noticing God’s presence in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for being forever present with us. We know that it is our misunderstanding and failure at times when we do not notice your presence. Reveal yourself to us anew, O God. Amen.  

Thursday: “Keep You” - Psalm 121: 7-8

In the end, pilgrims tend to be more about the total experience then reaching the destination – it’s about returning from a time marked in a different way and trying to integrate what you’ve learned into your daily life. In the end, that experience may lead to more questions – about God, others, and ourselves – then answers. And maybe that is what makes pilgrimages, and this time of Lent, so dangerous and yet so revealing. We are journeying into the mystery, expecting to find something but not knowing what it is. Holy mysteries for Divine change. 

What we do know, as we journey through life, and especially when we find ourselves in times of need, that we learn a lot about ourselves and our God. The Psalmist learned that God keep us - keeps us from harm, keeps watch over us. What have you learned about the character of God as you journey through life?

What have difficult times in your life taught you about the character of God?

Prayer: Lord, you thank you for your faithfulness. We thank you that you never leave us nor forsake us. We especially thank you today that you keep watch over us. Thank you, most gracious God! Amen. 

Friday: “Anxious” - Phil 4: 4-7

Paul writes to the church in Philippi that they should rejoice in all circumstances and not be anxious about anything, but those words are particularly hard to live into during times when we need help. Times when the weight of the world seems to be upon us. 

Yet, even in the most challenging of circumstances, the truth is that we can rejoice - not necessarily in what we are going through, but in the faithfulness of God who journeys through all of life with us, not just the easy moments. 

We can bring the totality of who we are and what we experience to God in prayer. Including the times when we simply need to call out to God with one word that describes all that we are feeling, “help.”

What situations make you the most anxious? How can you bring these moments before God?

Tell of a time that God brought you an abiding sense of peace. How did it make you feel?

Prayer: God, you are the source of all peace. Give us such peace in times when we are anxious -  in times when our well laid plans seem to come crashing down. Let us rejoice in you always, precious Lord! Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Essential Prayers: Thanks” -  Psalm 138

Family Activity: Have you family think of different types of things that they need help with. How does it make them feel to ask for help? What happens when you ask for help? What happens when we ask God for help?