Day 4 (Saturday, Feb 17) As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.Pause and pray.All come from dust, and to dust all return. (Ecclesiastes 3:20)Think about it.Fasting falls in the "dying with Jesus" category. We want to consider "rising with Jesus" as well, especially as we prepare for worship tomorrow, our weekly res...  Read More

Day 3 (Friday, Feb 16) As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.Pause and pray.“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer w...  Read More

Day 2 (Thursday, Feb 15) As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.Pause and pray.“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding ...  Read More

Day 1 (Ash Wednesday, Feb 14) As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.Pause and pray.“My soul thirsts for God, the living God.” (Psalm 42:2)Think about it.Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days of preparation for the great celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Our theme at UCC this Lent is Dyin...  Read More

This is Jesus’ last recorded parable in Luke before he arrives in Jerusalem, so it is a fitting end to our Lenten devotionals. Once again, Jesus wants to correct wrong expectations, but also stir up his followers’ thinking. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts regarding how you should respond to Jesus, even as you remember his death today, and await his first return on Easter. 11 While they...  Read More

Our expectations have a lot to do with our responses. If we think Jesus came to take away difficulties, we set ourselves up for a lot of disappointment. But sometimes we live as if that were true. Thankfully, Jesus is honest with us about what to expect. Invite the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see how this passage applies to your own life as you reflect on it. 1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Th...  Read More

Are you a glass half-full or a glass half-empty person? I find when I think about expectations as a follower of Jesus it’s easy to focus on the costs, but that is only half the story. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the Father that Jesus sees and shows us through his words and actions. 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; ...  Read More

This passage follows immediately after Jesus warns people to count the cost of following him. Apparently, they did not all run away! Mission might look different in our context, but certain elements will be the same. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see and ears to hear what you need to take away for yourself to expect as a follower of Jesus. 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two othe...  Read More

In this last week of Lent we will return to some earlier chapters in Luke and look at what Jesus teaches his disciples in regard to what they can expect as his followers. Counting the cost and benefits is important if we are going to follow Jesus for the long haul, and Jesus is quite clear about certain things. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you see and hear what he wants you to understand. 18 Onc...  Read More

We end this week of looking at faith in action at an unusual place–after Jesus’ death. In some ways it is fitting. It is when we are left on our own that our faith is truly tested. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts as you consider the actions of this man. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,  51 who had not consented to their decision and a...  Read More

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. His time is near. He spends much time around the temple, interacting with lots of people, including the common folk as well as those looking out to arrest him. Pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to teach you as we look at the faith Jesus honors in his last days. 1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor wi...  Read More

Today’s passage follows immediately after yesterday’s, when Jesus healed a blind man. The more encounters we look at, the more I am reminded of similar incidents. There are definite themes we continue to see in the way Jesus interacts with people, yet each one is unique as well. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts. And if you were raised going to Sunday School, see if you can read through t...  Read More