Lent 2010 #16

​1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)


"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."


THOUGHTS


It is so easy to get caught up in the time of self doubt or to get
bogged down when thins seem to be coming apart. It is precisely at
these low point that Paul calls us to rejoice, to give thanks. How
can this be? It is Paul's reminder that we are never abandoned but
are always those who are called children of God by God's love for us
in Jesus Christ. We rejoice. We give thanks. We have hope.


PRAYER


Lord help me to remember and praise you in my times of joy and times
of sorrow, for you are always with me.

--
Thoughts by participants in the Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland

--
These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University
http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland
http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #15

Psalm 63:1-8

1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

THOUGHTS: 

The very poetry in this psalm appeals to me.

Verse 1 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you,"

The imagery of seeking God reminds me of a beautiful Michael W. Smith song built around the metaphor of a game of Hide and Seek.

"Of my young heart beating fast behind the willow tree


I was counting out loud, and I only peeked a time or two


And the only purpose in my life was finding you


Singing, "Ollie, Ollie, everybody free!"


Now was I chasing you or were you chasing me?"

Verse 1 continues "My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

I have thirsted for completeness before- have you? Sometimes our lives can leave us so empty, so broken. We can try to make it on our own, but ultimately fall down again.

"We all grow up and put away our childhood games


But deep inside I wonder if we really change


'Cause I'm still seeking, though I've learned to hide so well

And I can still remember how it felt


Singing, "Ollie, Ollie everybody free!"


Will I ever find someone pursuing me?

Verses 3-4 "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you- I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands!"

How wonderful is it that we are pursued! How beautiful is it to be loved by our Creator so unconditionally. How can we keep from singing at this knowledge?

"And then you caught me by surprise

I found my tears are in your eyes

I hear my heart inside of you

At last I've found somebody who


Can free my soul


And love me too"

Verses 5-6 "My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."

At last, we are full. At last, we are satisfied. We are the free and beloved children of God- oh how blessed are we!

"I can't believe we hide so long and run so well


When all the while we're aching to be caught and held


But it's only in surrender that our freedom comes


And so I run abandoned to your waiting arms


Singing, "Ollie, Ollie everybody free!


I belong to you and you belong to me!"

Verses 7-8 "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

When we run into his arms and are covered "in the shadow of his wings," truly we can do anything. We are part of his family, now and forever. We belong and will never be alone.

And we are free. : )

Excerpts from Michael W. Smith, Everybody Free 

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Thoughts by Rachael Dickson, senior history major, happy member of Lutheran Campus Ministry at GMU

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #14

Daniel 3:19-30 (NRSV)

¹⁹Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, ²⁰and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. ²¹So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. ²²Because the king's command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire. 

²⁴Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, "Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." ²⁵He replied, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god." ²⁶Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. ²⁷And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them.

²⁸Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. ²⁹Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." ³⁰Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

THOUGHTS:

This is an amazing story.  King Nebuchadnezzar wants everyone in his kingdom to worship and serve the gods.  But these three guys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse.  They tell the King, go ahead throw us into the fire.  God will protect us.  I have to admit I don't know if I could have done that.  I don't know if my faith is strong enough.  The point is not to worry about how strong our faith is, but rather to place our trust in God.  And maybe, just maybe our trust in God will bring others to faith just like

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trust in God brought King Nebuchadnezzar to believe in God.

PRAYER:      

O Lord strengthen my faith so I can trust you like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did.  Use me in whatever way is appropriate to witness to your love and care of all people.  Amen.

--
Thoughts by Rev. Tom Knoll
Pastor First Trinity Lutheran, Washington D.C.

--

These devotions for young adults are provided by:
Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran
Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/
DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/
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Lent 2010 #13 - Take Heart

Chronicles 20:1-23

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. ²Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, 'A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar' (that is, En-gedi). ³Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Eternal One, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴Judah assembled to seek help from the Eternal One; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek God.

5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of God, before the new court, ⁶and said, 'O Eternal One, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. ⁷Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it for ever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? ⁸They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying, ⁹"If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgement, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save." ¹⁰See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— ¹¹they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit. ¹²O our God, will you not execute judgement upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.'

13 Meanwhile all the men of Judah stood before the Eternal One, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. ¹⁴Then the spirit of God came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly. ¹⁵He said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Eternal One to you: "Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's. ¹⁶Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Eternal One on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem." Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and God will be with you.'

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Eternal One, worshiping God. ¹⁹And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Eternal One, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.


20 They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 'Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Eternal One your God and you will be established; believe God's prophets.' ²¹When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Eternal One and praise God in holy splendour, as they went before the army, saying,
'Give thanks to the Eternal One,
   for God's steadfast love endures for ever.'

²²As they began to sing and praise, the Eternal One set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. ²³For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.


THOUGHTS: 

When troubling challenges overwhelm me, it is a rare occassion that I admit out loud that I do not know what to do. I wish I did more often, though, for then I might hear words of good news in reply: Do not fear or be dismayed, for God is with you. God's steadfast love endures forever, so take heart.

I don't exactly know what to make of the notion that these challenges are God's battles and not my own, except to wonder if letting go of the attractive but false idea that I can control everything-- and therefore acknowledging the freedom of other people and of the Living God to act-- frees me to do what I need to do. A song of thanks probably isn't a bad place to start, and at times like these requires courage-- as does waiting for the dust to clear, asking for help, accounting for what I've done and left undone, and forgiving myself and others. Praise be to God, then, who promises that we will not go the road alone.

PRAYER: 

Eternal One, friend and sustainer, we ask for comfort and strength when we cry out in distress. Grant us the courage to receive your love and salvation. In your many names we pray. Amen.

--

Thoughts by Ben Masters, a graduate of George Mason University and an alum of Lutheran Campus Ministry at GMU. He is currently working at Open Arms of Minnesota in Minneapolis, through Lutheran Volunteers Corps and is a proud member of the Wellstone House.

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Lent 2010 #12

Numbers 14:10b-24 (NRSV)

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.

And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they." 

But Moses said to the Lord, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, 'It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.' And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying, 

'The Lord is slow to anger, 

and abounding in steadfast love, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression, 

but by no means clearing the guilty, 

visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children 

to the third and the fourth generation.'

Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now."

Then the Lord said, "I do forgive, just as you have asked; nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of theLord— none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

THOUGHTS: 

I run into a lot of people who think that the so-called "Old Testament God" is an angry God more  interested in smiting people than in giving them the benefit of the doubt. At first glance today's text appears to fit right into that assumption. In verse 12 we read that the people have tried God's patience long enough. God is ready to strike the people with pestilence and disinherit them. It look like God is mad; get out of the way.

It's for this reason that Moses' response is so surprising, or at first glance stupid.  We might expect Moses to cut his losses and try to get out of Dodge (or at least the wilderness).  Instead, Moses takes God on; he argues with God. Moses ostensibly "mouths off" to God, using God's own words to make an argument.

If this were a scene in a play, I would imagine the cast running for wings while the audience gasped in fear for lone Moses standing there in the spotlight before God on an otherwise pitch black stage. And then, afraid to exhale, the audience would watch Moses neither run for stage right nor cower in fear, but fervently gesture towards the Most High as he reminded God of promises God already made: "The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression but by no means clearing the guilty" (v. 18). And Lo and behold: God listens.

What I love about this is Moses' audacity to quote God back to God. And Moses can do this because he starts with an important assumption: God is just. Now Moses doesn't sugarcoat what this means. He knows that the actions of the people will not be without consequence; he knows that God will judge them as we read at the end of verse 18. But Moses presumes that God is just; that God always is who God is. Moses pressures that even in the worst situations, God does not change from love to hate but remains love even in the midst of human faithlessness. So Moses argues with God because he trusts that he is dealing with a just God who really wants love, forgiveness, and deliverance for his people.

I run into a lot of people who believe that God is angry; that God wants to smite them or damn them or punish them. But Moses reminds us of something different. God is just no matter how unjust or unfaithful we have been. God is faithful to the promises God made to us, even when we don't deserve them.

Now we're invited to trust God's justice enough that we hold God to it, too!


PRAYER: 

God, so often we carry our sins with us and try to hide them from you. Lord, teach us not to fear but to trust you and your justice…for ourselves, our loved ones and our world.  Amen.

--
Thoughts by Rev. Amy Sevimli, Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA, www.dcyoungadults.org

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Feel free to share them with your friends!

View or subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

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Lent 2010 #11 (after fixing some numbering)

I just noticed that I slipped in numbering these devotions: Sundays aren't counted in the 40 days of Lent.  Taking that into account, now we are back to #11.  I've fixed the numbering at http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com

Psalm 105:1-6 (NRSV)

1O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 
2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 
3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 
4Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. 
5Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered, 
6O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 




THOUGHTS: 

There is one line that stuck out to me.  "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually."  I have spent quite a while thinking about
this one passage and why it sticks out to me. I realized the reason this struck me was how simple it seemed to seek the God, yet at the same time how hard it is to remember.


I take from this that our relationships with God can always be better.  It is important that we always attempt to put Him into a more central place in our lives.  This is something we practice in Lent and need to continue the rest of the year.







PRAYER: 




Heavenly Father, Allow the spiritual practices we develop this Lent, be fruitful to us and others.  May these habits continue with us when we move into other seasons of the year.  Amen



--

Thoughts by Christopher Bergtholdt, a Senior at George Mason University involved with LCM-GMU




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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/

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Feel free to share them with your friends!

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Lent 2010 - Second Sunday

Philippians 3:17-4:1 (NRSV)
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation* so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

THOUGHTS
Paul's words here are quite challenging, even condemning. But I wonder how many today read them in that way. It seems easy to read Paul's lament of those who are "enemies of the cross", solemnly nod our heads, and then feel thankful that we are not in that category, that we are "citizens of heaven." But are we? Paul writes that those who are enemies of the cross have their god in the belly; that their minds are set on earthly things. If we truly examine ourselves can honestly say that we are much different?

For the early Christians, committing oneself as a follower of Christ was not a decision lightly made. It meant turning one's life away from the common (and often mandatory) practices of daily life. Citizenship in heaven meant and still means that our loyalty is to God and God's ways first. But it seems that often the "heft" of the cross of Christ is ignored or pushed aside. Who is our god? The God of love, grace and forgiveness or the god of success, comfort and personal security? Where are our minds focused? On service, community, and God's will or on gaining wealth, ladder climbing, and the accumulation of possessions?

PRAYER
Dear Lord, during this time of Lent, let us examine our thoughts and our hearts and hear the challenge Paul raised to the church at Philippi to be "citizens of heaven". Help us to hear your voice and follow your path throughout each day. Amen.

--
Thoughts by Kriss Buss, young adult member of King of Kings Lutheran Church

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These devotions for young adults are provided by:

Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Lutheran Student Association at the University of Maryland http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~lutheran/lsa/

DC Young Adults http://www.dcyoungadults.org/
--
Feel free to share them with your friends!

View or subscribe to these devotions by RSS or email from http://lentendevotions.blogspot.com/
Also available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7958874287