Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Patience Nave

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it… The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.” So they departed from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.

Matthew 28:2-8 RSV

I have stood in the garden at Gordon’s tomb, a lovely place in Jerusalem that I would like to believe is the place where Jesus lay – though probably it is not. As I stood there, went inside the cave, and saw the track on which the stone would have rolled, I tried to imaging what it would have been like to have gone there to mourn and to have found that the day of mourning was over! That no grave contained the Lord! I am sure that it seemed to the two Marys almost too good to be true – especially since they had seen resurrection before when Lazarus had come forth from the grave.

With great joy they ran to tell the others! Of course. Isn’t that the natural reaction?

Then what about us? Two thousand years later, isn’t that still the news that the world needs to hear? If Christ be not resurrected, we are indeed a people most miserable! But he IS risen! He suffered and died for MY sin and he rose that I need not die! That is very personal news for a desperately needy world! Surely that must cause me to want to run and tell others!

Father, I thank you that no tomb could hold Jesus. I thank you that we serve a risen, living Savior! Make us bold to tell others this good news! Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Fortieth Day of Lent

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Rayna Carlsen 

“When we get to Jerusalem,” he said, “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified….”

Matthew 20:18-19

Unbelievable. At least four times God has recorded for us these words of Jesus. He knew what was coming. The betrayal, degradation, excruciating torture and agony of crucifixion. Not to mention the awful knowledge that He would be rejected by his Father when He took on our sins.

He knew all the time. Before He entered Jerusalem, Jesus tried to explain to his disciples what would happen. Even though they did not fully understand, Jesus knew. And he went anyway.

How many times in our own lives are we paralyzed by fear when we know something unpleasant is coming? Or how often do we avoid difficulty, making up excuses to change plans or looking for other roads to take so we don’t have to endure our own painful situations? We also tend to “pre”-live upcoming problems in our minds, not to prepare ourselves for it but building our apprehensions and devising potential methods of escape. Jesus knew what was coming – every  detail – and chose not to avoid it.

Jesus was God in human flesh. At any point He could have made a miraculous escape. When they spit in his face, He could have stopped it. When they ripped open his flesh with whips, He could have walked away unscathed. When they drove nails into his hands and feet, He could have freed himself, unharmed. He made the choice to stay and die.

What have we chosen to deny ourselves to show love for another – to show our love for Him?

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you seems such an inadequate way to express our wonder at the expression of Your love through Your Son. Guide our hearts and minds to see and understand how You want us to love. Put your love in our hearts and change our selfish ways that others may see You and give You the glory. In the name of Him who chose to love us. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-eighth Day of Lent

 Thursday, April 1, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Ernie Dorrell

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24

When Jesus taught, He never tried to camouflage the truth. People didn’t always embrace His teachings, but when it came time for discipleship He made it clear that there would be a cost involved for those who decided to follow His ways. I like the word “intentional” because I believe it carries with it a positive action, not just something to be considered.

Jesus said in the scripture listed above that if you intend to follow him you must be prepared to do three things. The first is to deny ourselves. That’s a shocker for most of us, who are part of a very self-centered society whose heart-cry is “give it to me now and make sure it is bigger and better and faster.” Jesus is calling us to change the center of our universe from ourselves to the needs of others and allegiance to His calling on our lives. Secondly, take up your cross on a daily basis. To me, that means my conscious choice to live by Jesus’ standards. Sometimes it is a narrow way, sometimes a way of suffering, sometimes a way of service or a way of compassion. But always a way of joy deep within us. Thirdly, “follow me.” This means not simply listening to Jesus’ words and meditating on them but sharing the risk with Jesus, of doing what is right in a world that is going all wrong.

We must never be ashamed of His Name or of being counted among His followers. We must “own up” to having been with Jesus and do so with a glad heart. We know that it’s risky business to follow Jesus, but the results of that choice will bring incredible blessings in this life and the next. Are you “intentional” about following Jesus?

Lord help us to count the cost. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-seventh Day of Lent

 Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Patience Nave 

And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup, and given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Mark 14:22-24 NAS

I like to try to imagine what it would have been like at the time that Jesus was speaking, and how his hearers might have heard what He was saying. This is a good example.

The feast they were having together was the Passover, and every good Jew knew from childhood the story of the Passover lamb. They had been told about the oppression of the Egyptians. They knew of God’s covenant with the Hebrew people, that their first-born child would be spared as the angel of death passed through the land only if they covered their doorposts and lintels with the blood of a lamb.

There were no windows in the homes in Jerusalem, and as Jesus and the disciples sat having their meal, the sound of bleating sheep in the night, sheep that would be slain for observance of the Passover Meal must have pierced the night air.

How shocking it must have been to the disciples to hear this man they had been following for three years say, “I am your Lamb. This is my covenant blood. This is my body.” A new covenant He was giving them, as only God could give. I wonder if they realized what he was saying!

Father thank you for Jesus, your Lamb who has taken away my sin and has saved me from the angel of death. Help me to remember as the resurrection celebration nears, that my life has been purchased at great cost. I can never merit such a gift, but I pray that you will help me show my appreciation by living in such a manner that your name will be honored by my life.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty

 Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV 

Scientists were studying learned behavior. Bringing a dog into the room, they zapped him with an electric prod. As he howled in pain, they offered him a steak, which he quickly devoured. Repeating the pattern over and over, they discovered an amazing thing. After a few times of being painfully zapped and fed steak, the dog’s attitude totally changed. He entered the room, tail wagging, salivating at the thought of the steak. He expected pain, be steak was coming.

In a similar way, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to view the pain and suffering in our lives as an indication that God is bringing us toward something good. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him – the joy of hearing his Father’s “well-done,” the joy of knowing he had defeated Satan, and the joy of knowing many others would now come to the Father because of his sacrifice.

Learning to ride a bike caused me many falls and scrapes, but whenever my dad would say, “Want to work on the bike,” I’d be ready. There was joy even in the hurts of the learning because of my father’s working with me as I struggled. Then there was the “steak” – the anticipation of the time I’d be able to ride with my friends. 

Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. Can we endure our suffering in fellowship with him, knowing the same joy – the anticipation of our Father’s “well-done,” the defeat of Satan and the knowledge our God-focused struggle is acting as an encouragement to others?

The cross reminds us there is purpose in our suffering. We may be feeling “zapped” but we can know there’s spiritual steak coming.

Lord, help me to look past the sufferings in my life. Teach me to look for your joy set before me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Thirty-fifth Day of Lent

 

Monday, March 29, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Donna Ludwick 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

When our oldest son was getting married, his brother was his best man. On the day of the wedding, we drove 20 miles to the church. About a half an hour before the ceremony was to start, the best man realized he had left the pants to his tux back home in his closet. Since there was no time to go back, I whispered a prayer, “Help, Lord! We need some gray pants.”

After making some inquiries, we were told about a men’s store just a couple of blocks from the church. Our son and his dad took off for the store and came back minutes later with gray pants. Except for the stripe down the side, the pants were identical to the others that belonged to the tux. I said a big “thank you” to the Lord.

The wedding was right on schedule.

Thank you, Lord, for caring for the details of our lives. Help us turn to you when we feel anxious. Amen 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

 

 

Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

Worship well today.

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Thirty-fourth day of Lent

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide 

Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

John 3:3 NIV

“I’m not one of those ‘born-agains,’ am I?” Marge’s agitated question startled the Bible study. Coming from Catholic background, she often asked about Bible phrases that bothered her but not usually with this intensity. Sensing the Spirit’s leading, I replied, “Marge, go home and read John 3 over several times this week and then you tell me whether you are born again or not.”

A week later, Marge came back with her answer. Obviously uncomfortable with the thought but wanting to be truthful she admitted, “I am one of those ‘born-agains.’”

It was two years before we saw Marge again. During that time she and her husband moved, struggled with a son’s attempted suicide and lost their home in a devastating fire. As we welcomed her back, Marge said, “I just had to come and tell you. If I hadn’t been one of those ‘born-agains’ I would never have made it through the past two years.”

Our first birth, the fleshly one, came about through no choice of our own. We have all been born once. But Jesus challenges us to accept the second birth – one which is a matter of our choice and comes from above through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we choose the second birth by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we become a part of the kingdom of God.

After you read John 3, where do you stand? Are you one of those “born-agains?”

Lord, help me to look at the truth of John 3:3 and to accept its necessity for entering the kingdom of God. Thank you for making it possible for me to be one of those “born agains.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!

prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida

Spring 2011

compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-third day of Lent

Friday, March 26, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

In the movie, The Two Brothers, twin tiger cubs are taken into captivity and sent to different places by their human captors. One cub is given to a circus where he is trained to excite the crowds. The cub’s hatred for captivity reaches a peak when his trainer commands him to leap through a ring of fire. Snarling, he refuses. A senior trainer says, “Give him to me. I’ll make him obey.”

The movie doesn’t show the beating the young tiger receives, but you know it happened. When he is brought back to the ring of fire again, the trainer says, “Now he will jump.” And he does. Watching, our senses recoil at what was done to break the young tiger’s spirit.

Later, through a set of unusual circumstances, the twins are brought together again, and they escape into the wild. Hunters go after them, knowing the tigers’ hatred of man and their inability to fend for themselves in the jungle. The men surround the tigers with a ring of fire, forcing them together so they become easy targets. But the circus twin remembers – and he is not afraid of the fire. All he has to do is to leap through it. He does so and then returns to urge his twin to follow him. Because of the harsh discipline of his circus days, the trained twin saves both of their lives as they escape the hunters’ bullets.

Believing that every hardship coming into our lives has to pass through the hand of God before touching us, we can embrace trouble with, “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this?” If we do, later on, looking back, we can see where the time that seemed so hard has matured and strengthened us in our Christian walk.

Lord, your word tells me to “endure hardship as discipline,” because you are treating me as your child. Enable me to trust your choice of discipline for my life and to seek to learn its lesson. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-second day of Lent

 

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Rayna Carlsen 

Then Jesus shouted out again and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:30-31

Why was the tearing of the Temple curtain so important that God took care to record it for us in His word? 

The curtain is described in detail in Exodus 26:31-33. Specifically it says, “This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place [the place where God dwells].” Man could approach in a specific way, at specified times, through a specific people.

We tend to have an Old Testament way of thinking today. We want to approach God by a specific set of rules in a place only a chosen few can enter. But when Jesus died on the cross, that curtain God had established to separate the “common man” from His presence was torn from top to bottom. The doorway to God was opened – to all of us!

I picture the hands of God tearing that magnificent curtain in half, delighted to open direct access to Himself for us. As Hebrews records, “we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by mans of his death for us.”

God desires us to come to Him. Directly. He wants us to be in His presence, communing with Him whenever and wherever possible. What an honor! As a father loves having his children come to him to talk about their day and share their joys, sorrows, expectations and to look for advice, our Heavenly Father desires our personal contact with Him.

Dear loving Father, give me a better understanding of this marvelous privilege to be able to come directly into your presence because of Jesus. Give me the boldness to come directly to you with a trusting heart. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirty-first day of Lent

 

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Myrna Evans

 For my part, my brothers, I could not speak to you as I should speak to people who have the Spirit. I had to deal with you on the merely natural plane, as infants in Christ. And so I gave you milk to drink, instead of solid food, for which you were not yet ready.

I Corinthians 3:1-2a NEB

A pastor began his sermon with this story: During the night a Mom and Dad heard a great thud coming from their young son’s room. They rushed in to find him sitting on the floor rubbing his eyes. “What happened?” the parents asked. The little boy answered, “I fell asleep too close to where I got in!”

As Christians we often have the same problem. We come to know Christ and revel in the experience. We want to sustain the joy of that moment but it can’t happen. Like the wonder of first love or the exhilaration of reaching a mountaintop, we cannot stay there forever. Like that first love, faith must either grow or it will die. Saint Paul asks why we still need baby food when we ought to be consuming things of more substance. If we would truly walk with Jesus, the Gospels tell us clearly what we must do. Let’s not fall asleep too close to where we got in!

Dear God, open our hearts and minds to your will and your Word. Keep us growing in our faith and help us to walk humbly in your Way. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Thirtieth Day of Lent

 Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Myrna Evans

“…for I was hungry and you gave me food…thirsty and you gave me drink…a stranger and you welcomed me…naked and you clothed me…sick and you visited me…in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink…sick or in prison and visit thee?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:35-40 RSV

Recently Dick and I visited Americus, Georgia where we spent some time at Koinonia Farm, an interracial Christian Community established by Clarence Jordan in 1942. At that time segregation was the only way of life known to the folks in that rural area. Mr. Jordan was an ordained Baptist pastor, he had a degree in agriculture and a Ph.D. in New Testament Greek. He could have had all kinds of prestigious jobs but God called him to return to the place where he grew up and address the problems of racial injustice and poverty. He organized this community where black and white, rich and poor shared their resources and enabled one another. Out of this community came the vision for “Habitat for Humanity.” Clarence believed that the modern church has so glorifed Jesus that we have forgotten why he came as a “human.” Pastor Jordan truly followed the teachings of Jesus. He spent himself to do his Master’s will. Pastor Jordan died at the young age of 57 and as his body was lowered into the grave a little two year old girl named Faith sang “Happy Birthday.” Clarence and Faith understood what it meant to have a “resurrection faith.” Do we?

Dear Lord, Give us a “resurrection faith” that will enable us to be both bold and humble in your service.

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Twenty-ninth Day of Lent

 Monday, March 22, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Martha Dorrell

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day, he will be raised to life!”

Matthew 20:17-19 RSV

At our granddaughter’s confirmation, when the choir director came down the aisle to direct the choir, he pulled his hand out of his pocket and his baby’s pacifier fell out onto the floor two rows in from of me. After the anthem, he and his family sat in the row behind me but at the opposite end. Knowing how fanatic children can be about their “pacies,” throughout the service I became preoccupied with ideas on how to discretely get that pacifier to them. Even during the communion I had a method in mind, which was foiled when they went down another aisle!

Finally the Lord spoke to me, “Instead of worshipping me, you surely have been obsessed with that pacifier.” (I must admit I don’t remember a word the minister said.) Later the thought came to me – what if Jesus had gotten completely distracted with all the problems that constantly demanded His attention here on earth. Instead the scripture states, “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,” knowing He would meet His death there. He chose to accept God’s will for His life, without wavering, to be the sacrificial lamb for the sins of the whole world, which includes mine and yours.

Thank you, Lord, that you gave your life for my salvation from sin. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Easter Is Coming!

 

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

 

 

Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

Worship well today.

 

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-eighth Day of Lent

 Saturday, March 20, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Connie Barton 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you.

II Timothy 1:5

My maternal grandmother lived with us, and I saw first-hand the pain and suffering she endured and how she persevered with trust in God.

When I was about eight, she had cataract surgery in one eye, and I remember her excitement at being able to see again. However, a serious infection later required that her eye be surgically removed. After a time, she had cataract surgery in her other eye only to have the same thing occur a short time later requiring the removal of that one, too.

When Grandma returned home from the hospital, she was confused about direction and had difficulty getting around the house. But I watched her persevere! Every morning she carefully cleansed her eye sockets and inserted glass eyes. She lived a comfortable life for several years, learning to navigate the rooms in our home and enjoying some independence.

My mother always said, “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” Perhaps one of God’s mysterious ways was to allow me to learn many lessons about life and accepting difficulty by watching my Grandma accept her blindness and to live comfortably. Perhaps like Timothy at least a portion of my faith can be attributed to my Grandma and my Mother as they lived out their faith before me.

Lord, help me to be a person from whom others can learn about you and who will make them want to know you. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-seventh Day of Lent

 Friday, March 19, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Muriel Barton Kuhn 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

Many years ago, my daughter, Laura, and I drove to the Jacksonville airport to pick up my niece, Emily. She bounced down the ramp to our loving welcome, but quickly remembered a promise. “Aunt Muriel, I must find a phone and call my mother to tell her I got here safe and sound.” We found a pay phone, made the call, and headed for the baggage claim area.

When the guard asked for the baggage stubs, Emily cried out, “My wallet! I don’t have my wallet!” We realized very quickly that she must have put it down when she was making her important telephone call. We realized just how large this international airport lobby actually was when we tried to find the exact bank of phones where she had made her call. There were so many phones! I tried to help the girls to relax about the whole thing and silently prayed, “Please, God, help this little girl find her wallet.” It almost seemed hopeless – almost. But I knew that with God all things are possible.

We were obviously distressed and a well-dressed man came to us and asked what was wrong. I told him our story and he said, “Was it brown? Why don’t you look at that phone over there?” In a matter of moments, Emily and Laura were jumping up and down in excitement, holding the brown wallet with all its money, tickets, and everything! I turned to thank the man, but he was nowhere to be seen. I could see in each direction for a good distance, but the man was not there! The three of us knew that in our need, God had showed himself to us as an ordinary person. We could not thank the man. Instead, we thanked God!

Lord, in such an incident as this we realize that you are always present. Please never let us forget that! Thank you for caring about a child and a lost purse. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-sixth Day of Lent

 Thursday, March 18, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

 

Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.

Luke 12:35-36

As Easter approaches, my thoughts always turn to the pain of his preparing to face that cross, or the grief of the ones who loved him as they saw him suffer, or the exhilaration of that first Easter when they knew that neither cross nor grave could hold him. I love to sing and to hear the whole congregation sing on Easter morning, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!”

As I looked at the scripture above, it didn’t seem to be much of an Easter thought, until I let it settle into my mind and allowed God to shed a bit more light on it. Of course, it is an Easter message! The one who lived for us, died for us, rose for us and is coming back to get us! That should cause our hearts to swell with joy!

But then as I looked even more closely at the scripture and I had another thought. Recently we went to the airport to pick up one of our children who was coming for a short visit. We sat at the foot of the escalator and watched every person who came down, straining our eyes in the crowd for a glimpse of this “child” whom we love so much. And now I wonder, “Do we look with that same kind of anticipation at the clouds, where Jesus says we will see him first when he returns to earth? Are we prepared to “open the door” as the scripture says, to allow the Master to come in immediately, or will we want to say, “Wait just a minute, while I put some things in my house in order.”

Father, as I contemplate Easter help me to anticipate with great joy your second coming, and help me to keep my house in order so that I will be prepared to open the door quickly in response to your knock. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-fifth Day of Lent

 Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!
A Lenten Devotional Guide
By Jerry Cole

He gives power to the faith, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31 RSV

When I’m weary or just plain “down,” this scripture lifts me up. The Lord knows my joys and my sorrows, and He cares. I must go to Him for my help. He will renew my strength so that I will not falter or faint.

The mother eagle nudges her young from the nest and it plummets toward the ground. But she is always there ready to catch it as it falls. She dives toward the ground, swoops beneath her chick and catches it on her strong wings. Then she flies high, lifting it to great heights and out of danger. She actually does this over and over until the little one realizes that its own wings will work and that it can soar on its own without the benefit of its mother’s wings.

My Lord is always there to lift me when I need him. Over and over he lifts me up because he understands that I need him all the time!

Dear Lord, thank you for caring and for always being there for me. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

Twenty-fourth Day of Lent

 Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Bud Ludwick

 

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for   tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:24-34 NIV

Learning to trust was one of the hardest things for me. I was one who had to be in control. That worked well until our two oldest sons became teenagers and both began to drive. Suddenly the boys were out of my control. I could not protect, direct, or ensure their safety. This came to me as I lay awake at night waiting to hear the back door open as they came home. What a helpless feeling wondering if they had been in an accident or were in some other trouble.

That’s when I knew I needed help. I found that in Matthew 6:25-34 – the “don’t worry” chapter. It gave me the strength to trust that the boys would be just fine in God’s hands.

There are still times that I like to put on the “concern” hat. But concern and worry are different. As I grow closer to Christ I return to the words of Matthew to remind me to be free of worry. Praise God!

Lord, forgive me when I fall into the worry trap. I do trust you. Help me to be more consistent in my trust. Amen                                                                       

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort

 

Twenty-third Day of Lent

 Monday, March 15, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Patience Nave

 

And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem…. And they did not receive Him, because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51, 53

It is overwhelming to me to realize that Jesus went about his ministry with the realization always with him that he was going to die a terrible death. I know how easily I am distracted from a task by something that is pressing – a job, a need, an illness. And often those pressing matters cause me not to do something or to do it poorly, simply because I cannot keep my mind on the task at hand.

Not so with our Lord! He had a tremendous ministry in the three short years that we know about his adult life, and he knew all along that great pain and suffering awaited him in order for him to complete the task for which he had come. Amazing!

We know he dreaded it because he asked that, if possible, it not be. Yet he faced it, went about taking care of others’ pain, of others’ separation from God, or others’ questions and multiple needs.

I am so challenged by his remarkable focus. Sometimes when we love someone, we say to them, “I’ll do anything you ask. Anything!” That’s what Jesus said to God, and he meant it! And that, I am sure, is what kept his focus when he faced the pain and suffering necessary to save this broken world that God loved so much!

Father, I am so fickle. I say that I love you, yet I get distracted from what I know you want me to do. You have promised to change me to be like Jesus. Do that in this area of focus. Keep my mind and actions directed to the things that I know you want me to do. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort