Author: Mari Walker

Thursday, April 10

Drawn Like a Magnet

O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1

It’s the craziest thing. My cat Meli loves music. While her sibling Juba ‘leaves the building’ at the first hint of a musical tone, Meli sits calmly by and listens intently. She lounges lazily beside me on the piano bench when I’m practicing a piece or lies contentedly at my feet when I play the violin. But it’s the concertina (small English squeezebox) that draws her so strongly. If I sit at the kitchen table with my music in front of me, Meli jumps onto the table and plaintively utters several almost silent meows. She moves into my lap and ‘kisses’ the concertina and eventually climbs between me and the instrument, making it impossible to continue playing. There’s something seductive and irresistible in the tone of the concertina that draws her like a magnet. She is inconsolable if I remove it from her presence.

In a way, I am like Meli. I am drawn to the sacred word of God in scripture. The beauty and mystery of the words sing to me like a Siren’s song, call me to pray, inspire me to create, bring me to tears.

I have always had a love affair with words. Language delights me. Etymology fascinates me. Words call to me. I have become a writer of sorts in recent years and love to weave words into meaningful thought or compelling poetry. And now, wonder of wonders, I find that God beckons me through my love of words. Like a magnetic force, the Psalms pull at me through their images of comfort, peace and worship. In the silence of early morning, I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the beauty of the poetry of Isaiah and Jeremiah. In this season of Lent, I sense the profound sadness in the tender words Jesus speaks at the last supper.

The word of God inspires, uplifts, challenges, soothes. It fills me with longing and makes me thirst for more. What a wonderful gift we have received from our amazing creator!

Gracious God who summons, thank you for using our yearnings to draw us closer to you. Help us be attentive to the passions you have planted in us. We pray that you use them in some way to further your kingdom. Amen.

Betty Schroeder

Wednesday, April 9

Hiking Through the Void of Lent

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4

Images of hiking have always intrigued me. I have had the privilege of hiking most of the Appalachian Trail. I have hiked two of the many approaches to The Santiago de Compostela, also known as El Camino de Santiago or Way of St James, in Spain. Likewise, there have been hikes in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana…really, I’ve lost track, so to speak.  And the intrigue also comes in other ways. I will never forget John Denver’s The Mountain Song or Fogelberg’s riveting hiking and ecology anthem The Wild Places:

“Can we gaze with the wonder of children
into the deafening night.
Has it gotten so dark
That we cannot remember the light?”

Thus, when Dr. E. Brooks Holifield stepped into the pulpit to bring the word in Cannon Chapel on my first day of seminary at Candler School of Theology and invited us to “put on your backpacks and step into the void,” I was hooked! The invitation came with a warning.  He spoke with a prophetic voice. He said that in the coming years we might often ask ourselves “Why in the hell am I here?”

He clarified the invitation that we would be bringing with us stuffed in our backpacks all that we knew and had experienced about God. Our hiking trail would be in to a void, often in deep darkness, no height or depth, no direction of right or left, forward or backward.  But he said all along the way there would be points of light where we might find something of interest to pick up and examine, to hold, to recognize its texture, its weight, etc. We would be free to pick it up if we found it important, place it in our backpacks and continue the journey.

He cautioned us that in time we might find our backpacks had become heavy and that it would be important to stop at that time and examine more closely what we had gathered and what we had brought with us. Was the new thing attractive enough to keep?  Was the old thing still viable in your belief system. What is it that we know and believe about Jesus? And occasionally, has what we discovered earlier or been taught to be not so necessarily true for us anymore?

At those stops we were given permission to lay down what no longer worked for us; to pick up and take with us what was giving us new enlightenment and the power to believe more fully.  We were informed that what we left behind might not always be lost forever.  What we already have and believe brings us to the crossroads of what we are and teaches us to discover and seek after what is new as the void of faith presents. And sometimes we pick something back up to carry with us again.

The season of Lent provides us with such a hike through the darkness of the void of self-examination and new-found discovery. But we must open ourselves to what is new and become comfortable with what may change our course in faith. Some thoughts and beliefs will be with you forever. Some thoughts and beliefs must be set aside if your faith is to grow and our personal relationships with God and Jesus and the Spirit are to continue to blossom.

Take this time of lent to lend yourself to study and meditation.  Literally take a walk but do so with your soul in hand. What you need is already with you or on the trail but sometimes it will be bumpy and upsetting.  Sometimes you must walk with something for a bit to understand its importance to your faith growth.  But the journey of faith will always be joyful in the end.

The void of Lent invites your footsteps. It’s like a bad Friday sometimes but Sunday’s coming!

Rev. Larry Norman

Tuesday, April 8

Free Refills

The Lord restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness. For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever. – Psalm 23:3-6

According to Psalm 23:5-6, if you are only daring enough to let Him, God is constantly filling our spiritual cup with His Peace. However, sometimes it feels as though the challenges we face prevent us from feeling full and at peace. What I’m realizing, though, is that if you really surrender your life to Jesus,  things fall into place – there is a sense of peace found in letting go. Letting go of control is an apparent challenge for most. I mean, who wants to just go with the flow and accept, beforehand, whatever comes next? Not me – and not most people I know. The human desire for control reminds me of  the difficulties in my life that, fortunately, I’m growing from spiritually.

When I turned 13, I really struggled to control my life and my future. I became terribly anxious all the time. My need for a sense of control eventually became out of control. The next eight months were miserable as I struggled with anxiety over my parents, my school work, and even my music!

A year later, I have begun to flourish again, because God is refilling my cup through my wonderful friends, my family, and the ability to think and move around! I am full enough to see how awesome life is. I had forgotten for a while. It’s been no bed of roses, of course; I still have plenty of bad days, but now I am full spiritually, and I am well. I feel so thankful for my church family, my friends, and my parents. But, I also have to hand it to God for the free refills.

Evelyn Durham

Monday, April 7

Look Around at Creation

Genesis Chapter 1 – selected verses

Let there be light.

The warmth of the sun
Twinkling stars on a summer night
A child sees a super blue moon
The colors of an ocean sunset

God called the dry land earth and the waters gathered together he called seas.

The majesty of the snow-covered mountains
The colors of the Painted Desert
The rock formations in caves large and small
The depth and breadth of the oceans
The rushing white water rapids of mountain streams
A gentle babbling brook

Let the earth put forth vegetation.

Giant Redwoods
Flaming maple leaves in the fall
A crocus peeking through the snow
The deliciousness of a homegrown tomato
Ice-cold watermelon
A yellow rose

Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures.

The mammoth blue whale
A seahorse
Catching a fish for dinner
The hatching of sea turtle eggs
And let birds multiply on the earth.
A soaring eagle
A colorful hummingbird
A crowing rooster
The first robin of spring

Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kind.

The long-neck giraffe
The fluttering butterfly
The lumbering silverback gorilla
The power of a racing horse
The majesty of a Siberian tiger
A newborn puppy

Let us make man in our image.

A newborn baby
A curious toddler
A rebellious teenager
Skin tones from pale pink to dark, dark brown
Red hair, straight hair
Creative, searching
Faithful, confused

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

Creator God, When I look around at your creation I am filled with awe, with curiosity and joy! I pray that I will always be a responsible steward so that generations to come may be awed, curious and joyful as they experience abundant life in your creation. Amen.

Carol Jean Barrow

Saturday, April 5

Young Man Born Blind

Outside a leather craftsman’s shop in a village north of Jerusalem.

A young man speaks: “I always recognized my mother by her gentle loving voice, my father by his angry rasping complaints. He had every right to be disappointed in his life, I’m sure. He is an excellent leather worker, but our villagers are poor and cannot pay what he should earn. And he has a useless son.

I was born without the gift of sight. I grew up unable to do many things on my own. I could not help in the shop, so as soon as possible, I was put out to beg. I sat in the dust at the side of the road outside the shop, holding an earthenware bowl. I lost track of the days and years I did this. They were all the same. From time to time I would hear a sympathetic word and the clink of a coin tossed into the bowl. More often there would be a curse or a slur and terse comment that someone had sinned greatly and I was punished as a result.

Through the years it never occurred to me that things might change. But they have and it was through the mercy of the Lord Jesus. He and his disciples passed by me one day. One of the disciples asked whose sin had caused my condition. ‘No one,’ Jesus answered, ‘but God’s glory will be shown this day.’

From that moment I have been able to see. The sudden glare of light overwhelmed me. I’m sure I murmured thank you. I staggered into the shop to find my parents. We rejoiced as a family for the first time. When I was able to control my emotions a bit, I looked for my healer –I didn’t know Jesus by name then – but found that he and his students had gone on their way.

At once I began my new life. I began to help my father in the leather shop. I was very clumsy but he seemed happy to have me there and I soon began to acquire some skills. Things did not go so well with our synagogue, however. The leaders were upset because I had been healed on a Sabbath. This they regarded as contrary to the Law. They were also perturbed since I couldn’t name my healer. Ultimately they cast our family out of the synagogue.

We were not cast out of society altogether, however. The Lord and his disciples visited our village again. I was able to meet him, speak with him, and become a follower of his way. Several others in the town also recognized Jesus as the Messiah. We meet often to support one another as the synagogue leaders rage against us.

We have learned that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for the Passover festival and that his followers will hail him as King of Israel. The Romans will not tolerate that and the Temple leaders also are united against him. I must go and stand with his disciples as he faces this danger.

I wish to join them at this Passover. My parents agree I should go. Mother says a guest should contribute to the feast. Roasted eggs are often part of the Passover fare. I like the idea. An egg is a strong symbol of potential for life and growth. Jesus’ power unlocked my potential for living. What lies ahead for him in this perilous Passover season?”

Guy Johnson

Friday, April 4

O Come and Be Forgiven

Sung to the tune of “O Come All Ye Faithful”

Oh, Come all you people sinful and discouraged.
Come to God’s grace and all is forgiven.
Come and accept grace born of God’s love for us.

CHORUS:

Oh, Come and be Forgiven.
Oh, Come and be His beloved.
Oh, Come and beee Thankful
For God’s Grace.

Are you like the Prodigal sinful and remorseful?
Return to your Father to be forgiven.
Come and Bow down only to be loved.

CHORUS

Do you remember the barren fig tree?
It was not its fig time.
There was no fruit,
But it still had so much worth.

CHORUS

Are any of us worthy of God’s favor?
None of us are, but he loves us still.
His love is free
For all to accept.

CHORUS

Daphne G. Grady

Thursday, April 3

Grace

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)

My cup of grace is full to the brim.
And my cup is not at all thin.

It really has a lot to hold
Because the cup is so very old.

It was here since the beginning of time
And its contents are so sublime.

God loves me, this I know
All that grace continues to flow.

Even though I am not deserving
That cup is not conserving

The grace is there
For all to share.

If I but look
And follow the Book

I will be forgiven
And will get to Heaven.

What more could anyone ask?
Although it is a difficult task

I will do my part
And LOVE with all my heart.

To some it may seem odd
But to love and be loved by GOD

While cheerfully finishing this race
Is the most important part of Grace.

Heavenly Father, You are the potter who molded this cup of grace. Help us to run this race Without the desire to shove As we practice your love. Amen, again and again!

Daphne G. Grady

Wednesday, April 2

Psalm of Grace

God is all mercy and grace – not quick to anger, is rich in love. GOD is good to one and all; everything he does is soaked through with grace. – Psalm 145:8, The Message

Dear Lord and Savior of the World, help us to realize that the overflowing cup of your grace is available to all of us. None of us are worthy but the cup is there for us if we just pay attention and ask. In your grace-filled name we pray. AMEN!

Daphne G. Grady

Tuesday, April 1

Full to the Brim Acrostic

Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7      

Fearfully facing my inner-faith journey, I sometimes feel

Unwilling to dig under the surface of what my

Life as a Christian means. Lent is the perfect time to

Lean into the task with love, to learn from the Lord.

Thankfulness is a first step, taking the time to look at

Our lives, for areas of blessings that often go unnoticed.

The act of creating a daily “Thanks Journal” has been

Helpful to me. It helps to open my heart, head, and

Eyes to see every good thing in my life, and to give God thanks.

Being in the mindset of gratitude, focuses me and allows me to

Reflect more deeply, and to reach out to others,

In love and with more compassion. I inevitably find that

My life is indeed, “FULL TO THE BRIM!” Praise God!

Holy Lord, please give me the will and persistence to take regular, honest assessments of my life and to document them within the lens of thanksgiving, that I may be fully aware of Your constancy and love. In Your son Jesus’ name. Amen

Judy Fogt Gilmore

Monday, March 31

You Are Beloved

And a voice from heaven said, this is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. – Matthew 3:17

In the process of compiling a book of my dad’s letters that he wrote home to my mother and me, I came across this reflection that he wrote following a worship service while on a ship carrying thousands of service men overseas at the beginning of World War II.

“We had Divine services yesterday morning shortly after I wrote you. There’s something gripping about services like that – hundreds of men of different faiths, different countries, different ranks, gathering to renew and affirm their guidance of the Almighty, singing the old familiar hymns while outside rages a world war, represented, as it were, by the waves beating against this magnificent boat.” – W.D. Cotton¹

For me, there is something gripping about gathering in the sanctuary as we sing the familiar hymns of faith that stir in our hearts during this season of Lent. 

“What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend, for this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end? O make me thine forever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.”²

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?³

Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be nearer, my God to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!⁴

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.⁵

As we move through this season of Lent, pay attention to the words you hear that may come only to your ear. Pay attention, and you may hear what Jesus heard as he came up from the waters of baptism, “This is my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” I believe that those words come to us, each of us, as a blessing for our journey through the days of Lent. We are called to live as one who is Beloved. It is our blessing from the One that God first called, My Beloved, his son and our savior, Jesus the Christ. To hear ourselves called Beloved is a blessing. I cannot promise you there will be no ‘dangers, toils or snares’ that come your way. But I can tell you there will be help on this path. Along the Lenten Way you will find the strange grace that comes to meet us bearing comfort and strength for the journey for no other reason than Grace Alone. 

Holy and gracious God, in this season of Lent, open our ears to hear your voice calling us Beloved. When the waves of life rage around us, when dangers and toils come our way, remind us that your grace is ever near, guiding and sustaining us. May we walk this Lenten path with hearts stirred by your love, held fast by your mercy, and strengthened to live as your Beloved. Amen.

Rev. Carole Cotton Winn, 2017

1 My Darling; A World War II Scrapbook, ©2016 Carole Cotton Winn
2 O, Sacred Head, Now Wounded (UMH p. 286)
3 Were You There (UMH p. 288)
4 Nearer, My God, to Thee (UMH p. 528)
5 Amazing Grace (UMH p. 378)