Author: Mari Walker

Tuesday, April 5

Recalculating the Path

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. —Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV)

A road trip many years ago to visit our son outside of Hot Springs was interrupted a few miles from our destination by a detour. Our new GARMIN GPS quickly “recalculated” our route, directing us onto a narrow, muddy, back road, indicating that we would reach our destination in 12 minutes. After some 25 minutes of multiple turns, recalculations, and literally “wandering in the wilderness,” we realized that the trusted technology had given us inaccurate information; furthermore, it was getting late, there were no road signs for reference, no houses at which to stop for direction, no street lights to help us stay on the dirt road, and no cell service to call for assistance. It was beginning to be a time of concern and apprehension.

We agreed that what we needed to do was to put away the distraction of the GPS and to rely on our own sense of direction and knowledge. By observing the position of the setting sun we realized that we had been going away from the general direction of our son’s house. This led us to “recalculate” our own path. We turned around and after some time, we eventually found our way back to a main road that took us on to our waiting family.

Let us be reminded once again at this Lenten season that traveling the road to Christianity is not always easy. There are detours along the way, challenges to face and hard decisions to be made. Sometimes we unknowingly take the wrong path, other times we take a wrong turn by our own choice or from the advice of others. We need to stop often and recalculate our position in order to stay on the right path so that in the end, we are reunited with our heavenly family.

Dear Lord, give me the foresight to know when I am lost and the courage to recalculate my path as I travel the sometimes difficult road to Christian discipleship. Keep me on the path of righteousness during my journey. AMEN.

Claudia Fowler

Monday, April 4

Billy

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. —Psalm 23:1

I would like to tell you about a Marine buddy of mine. Let me call him Billy. Let me give you a little back history of Billy. Billy had the morals of an alley cat, and his morals would make an alley cat blush.

Lt. Dan, but angrier. Faith in Marines on left or right. Faith in M-16s. Faith in physical things. Billy was scuzzy. I wouldn’t bring him home for Christmas dinner. But he had good qualities, honest and loyal. You know the type.

He would razz people. I have had a Bible since Confirmation that goes with me everywhere. He would stop before it got to be hurtful. He did it to everybody who had a symbol of faith.

Billy and I were on convoys. We did a lot of convoys. It had been a bad week; it had been a bad convoy so far. Let’s just say the news media had a very lucrative week.

As we were driving I heard and saw a thunderstorm. Off on the right. Just the fact that I was seeing and hearing thunder made me think of south LA. On the left I saw a rolling, boiling wall, and I thought, “Oh I am going to experience my first major sand storm.” Visibility ceased to exist. You had to grab your buddy next to you to make sure he was still there because the sand was so thick. Billy is just cussing and fussing because we can’t do our job to protect our Marines.

Going through the sandstorm, rain catches up and now it’s flying mud with less visibility. You can’t see your hand in front of your face. Billy just knows something bad is about to happen.

We get to our destination, and the sandstorm and rain-storm finally stop. We are getting ready to bed down, and we actually get to sleep inside. We come under fire that night. Next day we get ready to come back and I felt a sense of peace, because you are always on edge. I felt today we would have no problems. Everything just felt scoured and peaceful. I had gotten up and was reading my Bible. Billy asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was finding peace for today.

Billy was quiet again which was kind of unusual for Billy. We get back early to the base. So Billy and I and our friend Roger decide to go to the theater building to get some snacks and lay back. We leave the theater and are walking back. As we are walking, Billy stops and looks up. I stop and look up as well. Before me, I see the mosque and the sun is setting. Around the mosque and through the windows you see the purples and oranges of the sunset. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I hear crying. I look to the left and there is no one there. I look to the right and Billy is on the ground sobbing his eyes out. My friend is crying, and I have no idea what is wrong. I put my hand on his shoulder and shake him. “What is wrong? Talk to me.”

Billy says, “I need a Bible and a cross. I need one now.” “I have my little Bible; will that do?” “I need something.” “I have my warrior’s cross.” He is crying and sobbing eyes out. “What’s the prayer you do with? I need the prayer. The one where you take the …” I had an epiphany. The prayer when you take communion. Roger and I fell to our knees and said “Our Father who art in Heaven”. Billy repeated after us. All of us were sobbing and crying saying the Lord’s Prayer in the dirt. Billy said, “I have found God. God is real. GOD IS REAL.”

We get up, and you can tell we have been crying. Billy will not let go of my Bible. Somebody looks like they are going to say something to us and then they decide that maybe they do not want to mess with three Marines that have been crying,

We walk back to the barracks and go to our room. Billy is holding my Bible so tightly. He asks if he can keep it. I tell him he can have it to the next convoy.

Before lights out, Billy asks me to do a favor.” Will you go with me to a chaplain?” “Which one?” Billy stops and thinks for a while and says, “The one that wears a cross.”

Next day we sign out and go to the chaplain. Billy has a death grip on my bullet-proof Bible. Billy tells the chaplain, “I really want to talk to you about faith,” and starts to tell what had been going through his mind. Chaplain asks if he wants to share it with a friend or alone. Billy says “His faith is pretty good. Could we work on mine?”

I wait outside, and the Chaplain’s Aide is going to chow hall. “Would you like to go with me and get food and bring back their meals?”

I go with him and we get chow. Billy is outside and is content and finally at peace. He says “You can have this back now,” handing me my bullet-proof Bible. I say, “You can never have too many of these.” “But look here, this one is mine.” The chaplain had calligraphied Billy’s name in the front of the Bible.

The Billy I deployed with is not the Billy I returned to the states with. Billy finished his hitch in the Marine Corps and went into seminary. I am sad to say that I lost contact with Billy, but he sent me one letter. How’s the faith? I’m still tuning mine.

God is always with you. Amen.

Paul Grady Madden

Sunday, April 3

Lent 5 Reflection Guide – When There’s Not One Right Answer

Opening

What is the best gift you’ve ever given or received?

Scripture

John 12:1-8

Scripture Reflection

From a very young age, children are conditioned to believe there is always one right answer, one best answer, in any situation. But life and faith is messier and more complicated than that. This story poses an either/or question: is it better to lavishly care for Jesus, or to feed the poor? Jesus cuts through this false dichotomy with a reminder that there is time for both. How would our journey of faith be different if we discerned how to give the most beautiful within us to God, rather than fight and stress over what the one “right” choice is?

Moment of Silent Reflection

Spend one full minute in silence as you consider the scripture and reflection.

Turn to Wonder

What is the importance of noting, “six days before the Passover” in verse one?¹

Imagine you were in the room when this event happened? What did it smell like? What would have been your reaction?

Why might Judas Iscariot have raised a good point in verse 5?

What might Mary’s motivation for this action have been? How is Mary’s action a prefiguring of Jesus’ death?²

Considering Mary’s action shown to be exemplary, what might Jesus mean in verse 8?

What might this passage be calling us to do?

Closing

Close your time together in a manner that is typical for you. Consider sharing joys and prayer concerns, then close in prayer.

God of Extravagance,

We acknowledge that our ways are not always your ways.

We acknowledge that in your economy,

love and service are more precious than the costliness of any item.

Reshape our desires and values that they would come more in line

with the values of your kingdom. Amen.

¹We are nearing the death of Jesus.

²Both are acts of selfless, loving service.

Saturday, April 2

The Life and Challenges of a Long-Ago Christian, Part 5

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. —Proverbs 17:1

Melissa                                                                                   
A Villa, 63 AD

The fishers don’t usually visit the island, but that day Iskander did and found a young man unconscious on the shore. He brought him to Milady’s villa close to the beach. When Milady saw him, she took a fancy to him at once—he was very handsome. “We must save him, Melissa,” she said. “He has the look of a prince.” As Milady’s personal maid, I supervised his care. When he became well enough to sit up, we spent hours talking to one another and soon became friends. His name was Markos, and he was no prince but a poor young Christian. He told me about his faith and made me want to become Christian, also. When Markos was well enough, Milady took over his care. She made quite a pet of him. She gave him expensive new clothes and had a feast prepared for him every day. She even gave him her Arabian stallion. “I never knew people lived like this,” Markos said to me. “This is really nice.” I was afraid he was enjoying himself too much for a poor Christian boy. I hoped he wasn’t forgetting his faith.

One day for lunch Milady ordered a bottle of her most expensive wine. “You will love this, my pet,” she cooed. I was holding the bottle. When Markos reached out to take it, it fell to the floor and shattered. Milady, jumped up, furious. “You useless girl!” she screamed. “That was worth a fortune! Tomorrow, you go to the slave market!” Markos defended me, taking the blame, begging forgiveness. “You ungrateful wretch!” Milady turned on him. “Defend her, will you? Then join her! There will be two at the slave market tomorrow!” As Milady’s guards dragged us away, Markos whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Melissa. Our faith is our shield.”

Don’t let us become too comfortable, Lord, to remember the needs of others. Amen.

Guy Johnson

Friday, April 1

Wandering

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. —Deuteronomy 8:2

There should be a Bible verse that says, “Blessed are those who wander through life looking for their purpose and calling like Israelites wandering through the wilderness.” There must have been days when the Israelites looked around and thought, “I know we have passed this place before; when are we going to stop walking in circles?” Sometimes the road isn’t a narrow, rocky, rough path that is difficult to move forward on. Sometimes the path is wide, very wide, Sahara Desert wide. With no struggles to provide boundaries, there can be endless options, distractions, opportunities. It is in those times when we can lose our focus. We forget to listen for the voice of God as it is drowned out by the busyness. The urgency to reach out to God can wane, unlike when the road is rough and we are in need. We wait for a sign.

I struggled for many years looking for God’s purpose in my life. I worked full time but felt that was just something I was doing until He made known His purpose for me. I was waiting for a sign. I mentioned this to a friend at work one day and he asked, “How do you know that this isn’t your purpose? That your work isn’t your mission field?” I was stunned. I had been “wandering” around for years looking for God’s path for me. I had not realized that I was already on it until God sent a message to me through a friend. I have come to realize that wandering is ok. What we think of as going forward, backward and sideways may just be the road we are guided to take – not the straight path to the end but a curvy, winding tour through many God-filled moments. God is with us when we are on the rough parts of our life journey and on the smooth winding ones.

Dear God, please help us to wake each day and look to You for guidance. Though the path is sometimes unclear, remind us that you are with us, that Jesus gave his life for our salvation, and that the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts. Amen.

Susan Lambert 

Thursday, March 31

He’s Singing Over Me

He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice over you with singing. —Zephaniah 3:17

The Jesus I first met as a child and the Jesus I am best friends with today are exactly the same. He has always been the kind, loving Savior who loves me unconditionally. I have been blessed to have had so many wonderful things happen to me in my life, but there have also been some very challenging, hard and scary times as well. I have grown as a result of these hard times, learning so much along the way. Jesus never changed, but He was changing me.

It was during those times that I clung so hard to the Lord and prayed without ceasing from a point of raw hurt, pain and, yes, real fear. The Holy Spirit led me to scriptures of hope, comfort, and encouragement that I felt were written just for me.

I’ve learned to deliberately and intentionally fix my eyes on Jesus as being above whatever situation I’m going through. Jesus is already in my tomorrows and even in my next heartbeats. What a beautiful and comforting thought! This realization that He transcends time as we know it is truly a supernatural occurrence. I believe that Jesus uses these hard times in my life for the good so that I can minister to others with true empathy.

Following Jesus doesn’t mean your entire life will be all bluebirds and happiness. I never dreamed I would experience infertility, miscarriages, parental difficulties and abuse on an unimaginable scale, and a child who almost died at birth and who has been through so very much just to stay alive. But His promises are real and He will give you exactly what you need to get through your hard time.

Dear Lord, thank you for walking with me through this day. May I honor you and glorify you in all that I do and say, each and every day. Thank you for calling me to be your child and revealing yourself to me through good times and in not so good times. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Lynn Lohmann 

Wednesday, March 30

Finding the Way

How great is your goodness, Lord, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. —Psalm 31:19

Lost! I was lost. And frightened. I had ventured out for a long hike in a beautiful old-growth forest in Virginia with Mac, my Scottish terrier. Somehow the trail had faded, darkness was setting in, and I had lost all sense of direction. The only thing I knew to do was to pray.

As I knelt in the fragrant fallen leaves on the forest floor and closed my eyes, an amazing sense of peace fell over me. I knew that somehow God would help me. When I stood up and wiped the tears off my face, I spoke gently to Mac, assuring him that we would be okay. Without hesitation Mac began to energetically walk deeper into the woods. He stopped and turned back to look at me, as I was still standing frozen in my tracks. Then, remembering that comforting sense of peace, I began to follow my dog.

After about thirty minutes of determined hiking, Mac and I emerged onto the trail and were able to find our way out of the woods.

How amazing is our God! How surprising are his ways! I know that He stands watching us at every minute, through every challenge, in all that we experience in this precious life both good and bad.

God of refuge and comfort, every day of living brings a new sense of your awesome presence. Help us to spend our days in gratitude for your goodness and mercy and to be your ambassadors of love to the people whose paths cross our own. Amen.

Betty Schroeder

Tuesday, March 29

Headlines

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13

Headlines from the Baton Rouge Advocate, Monday-Thursday before Christmas, 2021

Death toll in Pakistan sewer gas blast up to 17
Typhoon death toll tops 140, Greater devastation likely in Philippines
Islamic world pitches aid for desperately poor Afghans
Baton Rouge father of 4 gunned down
Woman seeks help in face of loss, 3 siblings killed, mom injured in ‘absolute tragedy’
Man killed in motorcycle crash
Two injured in Sunday afternoon shooting
U.N.: Over 160 migrants drown in wrecks off Libya
Woman crashes through post office
ICE center called ‘unfit to house human beings’
Phillips 66 refinery closure looms
Not a ‘fairy-tale’ story
BR dad gunned down days before Christmas is 145th killing this year
La. Firefighter killed after truck tire explodes
More than 50 still missing in wake of powerful Typhoon Rai
Gunmen kill 47 in latest Nigeria attacks
Church agency: Captive missionaries escaped
Man dies in Bogalusa police custody
9 days after tornado, cat found in building rubble
7 in Minn. die from carbon monoxide
‘The police just grabbed me and started punching me”
LSU Law professor regrets defending student

In the National Alliance on Mental Illness support groups I attend and facilitate, one of our principles of support states: “We won’t judge anyone’s pain as less than our own.” I can only imagine what the people who have walked the rough roads in the headlines must feel, and I am quite certain that some of them have had their faith severely challenged. To me their pain is much worse than anything I have ever suffered.

What a challenge to be captured by enemies. How devastating to drown while attempting to reach freedom. How terrible to lose a father through gunfire or an entire family due to an automobile accident. On and on the challenges go.

Yes, there have been times when I did not get an expected job or was told that my services were not needed any longer. In the course of his career my husband did not work for four years. That is why he did not retire at 65. We never went hungry. I believed in “give us this day our daily bread,” and it was daily fulfilled.

Yes, my son fought in a war and came home not the same as when he left, but he came home. His faith was challenged in ways that I can never know because he does not share all of the bad times. His faith is very much intact.

His house has flooded several times, but he and his roommates were not hurt and most of their belongings were salvaged. The first things they grabbed were their Bibles.

Life has not always given me roses, but it is not God who left me or my family. It is usually I who am not praying without ceasing or I who am not reading the Word. There have been rough roads to walk, but I have known that God is always faithful. God is good, always. Always, God is good no matter what the rough road holds or what challenges are to be faced.

When that rough road comes to meet me, all I have to do is read the headlines, or talk to another NAMI caregiver or to another VA caregiver. My road is not nearly as rough as theirs and through Christ, I can do ALL things. I can overcome all adversities and hope that others can see HIS LIGHT shining through me in the challenge.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen.

Daphne G. Grady

Monday, March 28

Tested Faith

Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. —James 1:2-4 (CSB)

The phone rang. I didn’t want to answer it. The only thing they could possibly call me about was money, and I certainly didn’t have much of that. I almost let it go to voicemail, but for some reason I answered. That was the first time I found out I had breast cancer, and in October of 2014, I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment.

Fast forward to June 2019; everything that could go wrong went wrong. I could not get Devin in the high school of my choice; they said it was because of his autism. A friendship of many years went sour for no good reason at all. Things didn’t work out quite the way I imagined for VBS, and I felt I was of no use to the church. I was in a downward spiral, and I fell into depression.

In July of the same year I went for my six-month mammogram. When the nurse told me that they needed to take another picture, I knew it was not going to be good, and it wasn’t. I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in the same spot. Are you kidding me?

This time it was going to be simple. I would have a mastectomy of the left breast as well as a reduction of the right one. The plastic surgeon would be there to install the implant. Voila, we’re all good. If only it were that simple. Since I had had radiation treatment the first time, my skin was severely damaged. I developed an infection, ran a fever, was extremely weak and suffered from vertigo. Therefore, the implant had to be removed.

The whole process took longer and was rougher than expected. January 2020 arrived and with it came a worldwide pandemic. By March of that year everything had shut down, and I was due to restart the implant process again in May. To be honest I didn’t think it was going to happen, but God had it all in control. Things began to reopen just in time for me to have my surgery. This time no infection from the implant. Praise God!

In November of the same year I was able to get the permanent implant put in with no complications. By this time my whole outlook on the situation had changed. My faith and trust in God had increased; I saw even in my suffering that God was there with me. As Christians we may have to suffer and this suffering will test our faith, but if we trust in God, our faith will be complete.

Dear God, You are so wonderful! Even though we suffer and go through hard trials you are there with us. Thank you for carrying us through. In Jesus name, amen.

L. Darlene Dickson

Sunday, March 27

Lent 4 Reflection Guide – When It Goes to Waste

Opening

What is the most reckless thing you’ve ever done?

Scripture

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Scripture Reflection

This story is generally referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but could just as easily be called the Parable of the Prodigal Father – the father who “wastes” his love, his joy, his hope, his money, even his food on his wayward child. In this parable, God models for us how to love lavishly and to make that kind of loving a spiritual practice. For in God, no love is ever truly wasted.

Moment of Silent Reflection

Spend one full minute in silence as you consider the scripture and reflection.

Turn to Wonder

Why does Jesus tell this parable? Who is the main audience?

What does the word “prodigal” mean?¹

How is the younger son reckless? How is the older son reckless? How is the father reckless?

Sometimes this story is told as if it is about returning. How is the story more about searching and finding? (Hint: Read verses 4-10 for further confirmation – the shepherd finds the lost sheep and the woman finds the lost coin.)

What do you think happens next in the parable? Do you think the older son learns to accept the actions of the father? Do you think the older son leaves the father and the brother?

Why do you think the parable ends open-ended?

How might the Pharisees and scribes be like the older son? How might we be like the older son?

What do we learn about God from this passage? What does this passage tell us about ourselves?

How might this parable be calling us to live? What might this parable be calling us to do?

Closing

Close your time together in a manner that is typical for you. Consider sharing joys and prayer concerns, then close in prayer.

Prodigal God,

We thank you that you continue searching for us

and that there is no land too distant for us

to wander outside the reaches of your love.

Help us accept our identity as those who have been found by your love.

May we learn to be as gracious to others as you have been to us.

Amen.

¹Many assume “prodigal” has to do with acceptance or returning, however the word prodigal means “reckless.”