Good Friday

April 1st-April 8th

Devotional Guide  
April 1-8^th

http://www.jesus-story.net/painting_resurrection.htm

VISIO DIVINA 

is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with God through images.

As you look at this image contemplate how this scripture speaks to you.

How does this image convey God’s power?

How does this scene contrast with the scene of Good Friday?

What do the soldiers represent to you?

Does the use of light bring meaning to you?

PRAYER

MORNING

Lord your light takes hold over the night and life awakens to your touch. 
The wrappings of my deaths have been removed 
and I awaken to life, grace, and beauty. 
The breath I take is sweeter in my knowledge of your love,

oh, savior of my heart lead me.

READINGS FOR REFLECTION

Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer.

For Easter Day
You had not imagined

that something so empty
could fill you to overflowing,

and now you carry
the knowledge
like an awful treasure
or like a child that curls itself
within your heart:

how the emptiness
will bear forth a new world
you cannot fathom
but on whose edge you stand.

So why do you linger?
You have seen, and so you are
already blessed.
You have been seen, and so you are
the blessing.

There is no other word you need.
There is simply to go
and tell.
There is simply
to begin.

Jan Richardson Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture. 

Audio Lectio   

Chronological Bible

One Year Bible

Virtues to Guide Your Week

Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor? 
How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?

love of God- Sunday                 

love of neighbor -Monday         

humility -Tuesday                     

self-denial -Wednesday and Friday

resignation and meekness -  Thursday

and thanksgiving - Saturday  Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER

My Lord of life, lead me forth to live in the joy of your grace. Inspire my heart to embrace every blessing you give. Inspire my actions to be immersed in love. Inspire my words to inspire others to know and live in your grace. Amen

DAYTIME

Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon themand how they are leading you in this day. What is God placing upon your heart?

PRAYER

I pause to know and remember my God. I stop to recount the beginnings of this day. 
My knowledge of your love and power. I halt in my waywardness to restart in grace and love. 
I focus on the truth and begin again in faith. Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 

It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present in our
faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others.
These questions are in response to what God begins within us.
God is the force to which we respond. We live in response
to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?

Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?

Did I live out the virtue of this day?

Did I love better today?

What do I regret today?

What will be my goal for tomorrow?

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

PRAYER

As this day begins to fade into a tomorrow and the gloaming

calms the day I come before you, my God. I come in my awe and wonder to your love, power, and creation. I come in my shame to the moments of my dust. I seek, those moments of regret to be gone and only the beauty of new life to burst forth. Take from me the useless torments, and empty concerns and focus my mind and heart upon your power and love. Lead me into sleep and dreams of glory and goodness, so that I may awaken to live renewed in purpose and devotion to you, my God. Amen

Palm Sunday 2018

Devotional Guide

March 25^th-April 1^St

VISIO DIVINA 

is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with

God through images.

 1 Corinthians 13: 11-13

11When I was a child, I spoke, thought, and reasoned in childlike ways as we all do. But when I became a man, I left my childish ways behind. 12For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God. 13But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love.

As you look at this image contemplate how this scripture speaks to you.

How does this image convey God’s love for us?  Our love for God?

As Holy Week begins how does this image represent this week that

begins in celebration of the Messiah and ends in his crucifixion?

PRAYER

MORNING

The light of the world breaks through the night and a new day begins.

I focus on you Lord, and I am overwhelmed. Why me? What have I

done to deserve such love from you? My Spirit hesitates and soars at the same time. I am happy and yet know my faults. I live today for you, father of all grace and love. Amen

READINGS FOR REFLECTION

Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer.

Excerpts from the blog of Rick Morley

A reflection on the Passion in the Gospel of Mark

“…..when I’m in a hospital room and someone dies there is something—perhaps inadequately describable—that changes. Death casts a pall. What once was clearly alive is clearly no longer.

We may stand around a casket in a funeral home and talk about how the dearly departed “looks peaceful” and “sleeping,” but when death has just come, it’s hard to use such words.

Skin tone changes. Eyes are empty. Cheeks sink.

…..and, when Jesus is in that very moment—when he makes the turn from tortured man to corpse—

THAT’s when he is proclaimed as “Son of God.”

That’s the penultimate moment. The moment when he has just been broken.

There’s something to that. I’m not sure it can be denied. It’s the death of Jesus Christ which, for Mark at least, exalts him above all creation.

…….it should give us cause to sit at the foot of the cross this Holy Week. Before we break out the trumpet lilies and the white vestments—

before we don the white vestments.

Before then, perhaps we should sit at the feet of Jesus Christ, the corpse. The dead. The broken.

And behold the Son of God.

Perhaps that will make the discovery in the garden all the more revealing.

Rick Morley http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1517

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation on scripture. 

Audio Lectio   

Chronological Bible

One Year Bible

Virtues to Guide Your Week

Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor?

How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?

love of God- Sunday                 

love of neighbor -Monday         

humility -Tuesday                     

self-denial -Wednesday and Friday

resignation and meekness -  Thursday

and thanksgiving - Saturday 

 Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate on what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

Guided Meditation from Rick Morley  guided meditation

SENDING PRAYER

Father, lead me out into this day. Never be far from my heart

and my thoughts. Keep upon me the power of your grace and the courage of Jesus. Keep upon me the importance of his sacrifice for me. Amen

DAYTIME

Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. 

Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.

PRAYER

Lord of life, every second holds your grace.

I stop to behold within the movement of time my prayer to you.

I pray in this space my devotion, my need, my fears, and my desire

to live as Jesus did. To abide in love and with courage to die to myself that I may live in your grace. Amen.

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 

It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present in

our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins within us. God is the force to which we respond.  We live in response to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?

Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?

Did I live out the virtue of this day?

Did I love better today?

What do I regret today?

What will be my goal for tomorrow?

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

PRAYER

The welts of my sin rise upon the back of my savior. Forgive me. I am a selfish being of the dirt. I confess to you my God and my words make this true within my heart. I seek comfort in my distress. Cool my fevered brow and rest my aching bones. Bring me the grace of beauty, softness, and gentle dreams that I may awaken renewed and strengthened to overcome that which keeps me from responding with boldness to your grace. Amen

March 18-25th

Devotional Guide 

March 18-25th

Limitless

https://99designs.com.sg/profiles/1281440

VISIO DIVINA 

is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with God through images.

 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7

but truth— yes, truth— is love’s delight! 7Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. The Voice Translation

As you look at this image contemplate how this scripture speaks to you.

How does this image convey truth, trust, hope, and endurance?

How does this image represent the love described 1 Corinthians?

PRAYER

MORNING

God of infinite love,

I open your gift of this day in excitement and wonder.

What will be held within the hours, that connects me

to you in new ways and in new understandings? I center

myself into your presence to know your voice in my life and

follow your Word. Amen

READINGS FOR REFLECTION

Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer.

The Song That Never Ends

My kids used to watch a show called Lambchop’s Play Along. The show would end with the song “The Song That Never Ends”. A song that would go on and on and on and on. It was an earworm that was very hard to overcome.

1Corinthians 13:6b-7 tells us that love bears, hopes, endures, and trusts all things. In the Greek, the word “things” is added. It says love endures all, hopes all, trusts all, bears all. There is no end to love. Like the song, it goes on and on and on and on.This love of God for us is the love we are to reflect to others. It becomes a heart song that sings within us the unending limits of true love found in Christ.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation on scripture. 

Audio Lectio   

One Year Bible

Chronological Bible

Virtues To Guide Your Week

Consider what you can do to live out each virtue this week. How can you love your neighbor?

How will you deny yourself? How will you be thankful?

love of God- Sunday                 

love of neighbor -Monday         

humility -Tuesday                     

self-denial -Wednesday and Friday

resignation and meekness -  Thursday

and thanksgiving - Saturday 

 Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus. Concentrate on what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER

Abiding God, I seek to stay within your loving presence. Safe in your Spirit and enfolded in your mercy. Set me forth into this day full of your grace, and love so that I may be

challenged to set myself aside and share with others my love for you.

DAYTIME

Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer, release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.

PRAYER

Lord of endlessness,

I wait in this moment to know you continually. To embrace your forever love and grow in that love of all  Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 

It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present in our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins with us.

God is the force to which we respond.  We live in response  to his love given through Christ.

Did I grow in my disciplines to prayer, scripture, and devotion to God?

Did I in some way put God and others before myself in how I lived today?

Did I live out the virtue of this day?

Did I love better today?

What do I regret today?

What will be my goal for tomorrow?

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

PRAYER

Creator of the day and of the night, forgive me for those thoughts, actions, attitudes, and words that were hurtful to you, others, and myself today. Bring to me the hope of your salvation and grace, that I may be renewed in your forgiveness, rejuvenated by rest, and upheld in your love. So that I may live tomorrow in greater response to your endless grace. Amen

Love Does Not

 

 Devotional Guide

 March 11-18th

Love Does Not Keep Track of Wrongs

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gioacchino_Assereto_-_Mocking_of_Christ.jpg

VISIO DIVINA 

is meditative/prayer practice that opens the heart and soul to connect with

God through images. How does this image speak to you about love?

Reading 1 Corinthians 13:5 It love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.How does this image portray what love is not?

Why are the faces of the men in black blurred?

Why is Christ’s face and body finely focused?

Pray upon this image. Take time to make tally marks

next to this picture, or upon the body of Christ.

Think about forgiveness, love, and God’s revealing

insight upon love.

PRAYER

MORNING

God of the infinite, you create each morning in a new light.

Despite our simple needs for order and routine

no day is exactly the same.

Guide me in the holiness of your creation.

Bring wonder and awe to my knowing

and seeing you in your Word, love, and forgiveness. Amen

READINGS FOR REFLECTION

Use an additional resource like the Upper Room or any devotionals you prefer.

Taking Inventory

In my life I have moved around more than most,

but not as much as others. The physical process of moving

is a daunting task. It is physically and emotionally exhausting.

The easiest way to move is to hire a company to do it for you.

They come and pack everything up in boxes, load it on a truck,

and deliver everything to your new home.

What always seems to catch me be surprise is how long it takes

to inventory all the boxes and furniture.

This part of the process can take most of a day.

This process ensures that nothing gets forgotten.

Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 13:5 that love does not record wrong doings.

Love does not take inventory of slights, betrayals, hurts, lies, faults, failings, shortcomings……

Jesus does not keep a tally of marks upon his back. He forgives.

He wipes the slate clean. We pray for the courage to love this way when we say,

 “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

Allow Jesus to do the heavy lifting and carry those heavy boxes to the trash. Ann

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

You may also like Lectio Divina a focused reading and meditation of scripture. 

Audio Lectio   

One Year Bible

Chronological Bible

Virtues for Prayer Each Day of The Week:

love of God- Sunday                 

love of neighbor -Monday         

humility -Tuesday                     

self-denial -Wednesday and Friday

resignation and meekness -  Thursday

and thanksgiving - Saturday 

 Heitzenrater, Richard P. (2013-08-20). Wesley and the People Called Methodists

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

           * Find your quiet center, empty your mind, and be present to hear the voice of God. Color, write in a journal, listen to music, use prayer beads to help your focus.Concentrate upon what God is calling you to understand, change, make, explore…...

SENDING PRAYER

Lord, I hesitate to continue in my day.Your loving presence enfolds me and strengthens me.

Guide me into the miracle of this day secured in faith and driven in love.  Amen

DAYTIME

Set a reminder to pray throughout the day. Embrace the breath of prayer,

release your burdens, be thankful. Recall today’s readings, the Visio Divina

and meditate upon them and how they are affecting your day.

PRAYER

Lord of forever,

God of my breath,

I pause,

I remember your forgiveness,

I praise. Amen

EVENING

Questions for Day that has Past 

It is important to reflect upon our day and where we may be more present
in our faith and more expressive in sharing what we know of God’s grace with others. These questions are in response to what God begins within us.God is the force to which we respond God is first. We live in response to his love given through Christ.

Did I love God in prayer with thankfulness and openness?

How will I love God more tomorrow?

Did I love others and share the beauty of God?

Was I generous with my time and resources?

Did I grow in faith?

Did I grow in love for God and others today?

Did I extend the forgiveness of Christ that I desire to receive?

Did I take time to appreciate all God has provided?

Did I love God through creative praise?

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT*

PRAYER

Father of forgiveness wipe the slate of my day clean of all my undoing’s.

That which I have done to others and to myself.

I seek to forgive, to love, to grow in grace

so that I live and love in your example.

To be purified by your Son, Spirit, and grace

into a person that lives according to faith,

and lives in praise to you, my God. Amen