Even When They Are Old
 By Lyna Kittelmann Wilkins

"Good people....will take root like trees that stay healthy and faithful, even when they are old." Psalm 91:14
 
Some people dismiss older citizens as old and useless. They see the white hair, the hearing problems, and the physical disabilities as hindrances. They are!
 
However, like leaves on a maple tree, as they age seniors become more beautiful. They have experiences, wisdom, and inner strength to help others. God gives us all gifts to use to help others. We just need to let him lead us in what he wants us to do—no matter our age.
 
To God we are beautiful, created in his image!
 
Dear Lord, lead senior citizens, especially me, to further your kingdom and to bring Jesus’ love to others. Amen.

Are You Making Use of this Power?
by Jeanie Hershey

"And you will know God’s great power. It can’t be compared with anything else. His power works for us who believe. It is the same mighty strength God showed. He showed this when he raised Christ from the dead." Ephesians 1:19-20 NIRV

Recently I was reading something online about a product that sounded promising for a need that Lyn and I were facing. As I neared the end of the fairly lengthy information, I began to sense that something sounded familiar. Sure enough, we already had some bottles of that supplement that sounded so miraculous. The only thing is that we had not opened the bottle!

The Spirit nudged my heart then that that is a picture of the many wonderful promises He has made to us, the work He has done for us, and yet I often don’t access.

The Scripture for today is an amazing example of this: We recognize the power that raised Jesus from the dead. And, that is certainly crucial to the Easter story. But, I believe that same power is available for our everyday life and just as important. We are not expected to live life on our own. Actually, we really can’t do that very well as we were created to live a life of faith that claims this resurrection power for our everyday life.

As I understand it, the word that Paul used for power was dunamis, a word that gives us our word, “dynamite.” He is saying here that God wants to give us dynamite power that can change our life, transform us into the being He created us to be. How exciting!

Dear Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus who demonstrated this mighty power through the resurrection. Forgive us for the times that we have tried on our own rather than look to you for the great things you have provided for our lives. Amen. 

Dad’s Reveille
By Pam Hardenbrook

…the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

As a young adult, my father met Jesus - and became a joyous, enthusiastic disciple. It was his fondest hope to be alive at Christ’s return. However, when Dad died in 2009, that desire wasn’t realized. After musing about this for several months, I came to realize that surely, Dad was not disappointed. 

My reflections resulted in the following poem. 

Throughout his life of faith on earth, one longing he held dear:
“To see Christ coming in the clouds –that trumpet sound to hear!”
Eyes keenly focused on the sky, with yearning he gazed at the blue.
Would this be the day that the firmament rends, and joyfully, Jesus steps through?
Ears expectant and eagerly open, he’d anticipate Gabriel’s tune.
“May your ‘glorious appearing’ mark the end of my days.
Come, Lord Jesus; yes, please come soon!”
But early that morning he left us. All was quiet; dozing near him we stayed.
No trumpet sounded to our ears, but to his – was a reveille played?
Or the angel band – was it jamming, rehearsing their song for That Day?
Maybe Gabriel tuning his trumpet was the sound that called Daddy away?
But that last trumpet solo, he’ll hear it! And the limbs of that great redwood tree
will shake as he jumps up to answer that call – just imagine with me!
Alive on this earth or asleep when Christ comes – where I’ll be, I really can’t say.
Dad would tell us, “Just watch and be ready,
For you may hear that trumpet today!”

Thank you, Lord, for your promise: that at Jesus’ return, I will reunite with my loved ones – and I will finally see you face to face. How these words comfort me! Give me watchful eyes and listening ears, and prepare my heart for my own reveille. Amen.

Trees
By Joyce Turnbaugh

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with the rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree. 
                                - Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918

This was my mother’s favorite poem and it was written in 1913, the same year she was born. I was named after the author, Joyce Kilmer. I have always loved trees, flowers, and other plants. 

Have you ever wondered how it is possible to plant a small brown seed into dull brown soil and have bright orange carrots, or vibrant yellow sunflowers emerge? I can prepare the soil and provide the water necessary, but only God can make the seeds grow and infuse the plants with all the colors of the rainbow!

Planting our humble little seeds of faith, kindness, and God’s love works very much the same way. When our beloved Savior, who gave his all for us, takes over from there, just stand back and watch them grow! 

Heavenly Father, give me grace to plant seeds of faith, kindness, and love in your world and give me humility and patience as I trust you to bring those seeds to life. Amen

The Labyrinth
By Kay Haley

Note: You may want to print out this devotion before listening to it. It has an interactive graphic that will enhance the devotion’s meaning.

You have made known to me the paths of life; and you will fill me with joy in your presence. Acts 2:28 NIV

One summer a couple of years ago I spent five months in the mountains at Sawtooth Methodist Camp. It was the epitome of the phrase “God’s country.” A very special place for me was the labyrinth. I once read that a labyrinth turns a simple act of walking into a peaceful journey with God. The labyrinth at camp was my silent retreat. As I entered I felt peace, and as   I walked I talked to God and he helped me with all my heartaches, fears, and joys.

During this Lenten season, a wonderful way to spend time in meditation is with this printed labyrinth. Follow the path with your finger or color your way to the center. As you follow the lines ask God to walk with you. Stay in the middle and just be still with God. Then as you follow your way back, thank God for all the joys in your life. 

Dear Lord thank you for using this time to pull me closer to You. By your grace, I will walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Borrowing from Jesus
By Pam Hardenbrook

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

When my daughter was a teenager, she would often borrow clothes from me – and sweaters from her dad. She had many nice outfits of her own, but access to her parents’ closets greatly expanded her wardrobe! And we were glad to share – it pleased us that she wanted to wear our things and, in a way, resemble us.

My friend, Karen, has been wearing clothes from her mother’s closet. Just after her mother died, she and her sister sorted through their mother’s clothing and decided to keep some of her things to wear. “Wearing her clothes is comforting,” Karen said, “because the scent of Mama’s perfume lingers in the fabric.”

Scripture admonishes us to be holy – to be like God (Lev. 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16). But as I try to resemble my Heavenly Father, I find that my own spiritual wardrobe is sadly lacking. Clothed in my own virtues, my apparel is tattered and soiled. However, Jesus offers me a whole closetful of clean, freshly pressed, holy garments and when I am dressed in his righteousness, I catch a whiff of his gracious aroma. Maybe those around me will sense it, too.
         
I am so glad that Jesus lets me borrow from his closet.
​
Lord Jesus, forgive me when I try to be righteous on my own. Teach me to rely on your holiness. Help me to grow to resemble you and to share the aroma of your grace. Amen.

How much God do you want?
By Jim Hardenbrook

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts: I cannot stand your assemblies. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" Amos 5:21 and 24

This passage is about repentance not justice. Read all of it (5:21-24) and you will see what I mean.

The people who received this message were religious.  They obeyed the prescribed tenets of their faith.  Their worship services and prayer meetings were right in line with the tradition they inherited.  Everything seemed just fine. Everything, that is, except God. God was not fine.

He hated their worship experiences and their prayers. That’s what it says!  A lack of holiness and fair play provoked God’s angry response to these people’s religious traditions. 

With penetrating sarcasm Wilbur E. Rees writes: 

"I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please."

How much of God would you like? Be careful with your answer. God does not take our commitments, or His, lightly. 

Prayer: Lord, I repent of my desire for a comfortable, unchallenging, self-serving faith. Open my eyes to opportunities you place before me. Transform my life so that I will act justly, seek mercy, and walk humbly with you, my God. Amen.

Here I am, Lord
​By Sharon Wada

Scripture: That I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Philippians 3:10

When I hear the hymn: “Here I am Lord” (United Methodist Hymnal, #593), I can’t get through the song without crying because I have heard You, Lord calling me in the night. Faith, belief, and trust all are interchangeable but although I hear You I don’t know what to do. It is my hope that from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday during this time of reflection and repentance I will have an epiphany. I have heard You more than once and yet I do not hear; open my ears and my eyes and heart that I may be awakened. Although I try to be more pleasing to You, I stay conflicted and unmotivated. I think of many things I could do to be of service but I am paralyzed.

I have experienced the power of prayer during these past months while I recuperated from my accident. Even my surgeon was surprised that the operation was as uncomplicated – after putting my jaw together – since the fracture was in two places. He said, after setting the first break, that it’s unusual for the second break to slide into place. I told him of my faith and all the people praying for me. Maybe just maybe, I heard you calling me onward, “holding your people in my heart.”

Prayer: Lord I know I have your wisdom to guide me and I will go where you lead me. Through your death I know I will have eternal life. Amen

​Listen now to "Here I Am Lord"

​God’s Unfathomable Peace
By Pam Hardenbrook

Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood. Philippians 4:6-7

A few years ago I became friends with a woman I quickly grew to love and appreciate. Her story has had a profound influence on my life.

In the 1960s, she and her husband started a manufacturing business that involved using hazardous materials.

In the late 90s, the Environmental Protection Agency filed suit against them, which led to their home and business being condemned and their eventual bankruptcy. Then, her husband developed terminal cancer and died shortly before we met her.

Despite all this, I never met a more joyful person. Her attitude didn’t make sense according to the way the world views such tragedies. The key to her joy was her commitment to prayer and her faith in God.
​
She told us that while her husband was dying, many of her friends prayed for his healing. She said she appreciated their prayers, but that her requests were different. Instead, she prayed for three things: that she and her husband would have good conversation (about what was happening and what her future would be), that their love would grow, and that she would have no bitterness. My friend was quick to say that her prayers had been answered, and that as a bonus, God gave her unfathomable peace and joy.

When I grow up, I want to be like this faithful follower of Jesus.
​
Prayer: Gracious and loving God, thank you for the examples of your servants and for their testimonies of your faithfulness. Protect my spirit from anxiety as I bring my needs to you with a grateful heart, and may your unfathomable peace and joy flood my soul. To the praise of your glory, Amen.

​Off Track
By Larry Haley

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10 NIV

I used to teach Idaho Hunter Education to youth. I also went hunting each year with a small group of friends. One lesson
I taught was what to do if you became lost. This included a discussion about how being lost would feel – panic, fear,
anxiety. If left unchecked one could make bad decisions and possibly make the problem worse. To counter this I taught them a process to “chill” out. The process: Sit down, build a little campfire, eat and drink something. This would give them time to relax and be able to think and plan what the next step would be.

One hunting trip my friends and I split up with a plan to meet at a certain point in the late afternoon and be picked up by another to drive back to camp. About mid afternoon I realized I wasn’t where I thought I was. Immediately those feelings
I had taught about were happening to me! But I knew what to do. This calmed me down and I was able to get back on track and reach the meeting point on time. 

We’re always getting off track, lost, even with the best-laid plans. There are many things in life we don’t control. But there is one who is in control, our God, who has laid out a path for us and provided a spiritual guide and a written guide for us. When that “off track” feeling hits us we can immediately go to our spiritual leader and our written guide for help. 

Prayer: Lord, we your sheep are always getting lost. Watch over us and give us that push and prod that we need to get back on track. Amen

​​Be a Light
By Leslie Ward

In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

I grew up in a church with the most amazing, kind, loving, and graceful people. No matter what the circumstance was, someone was always there to help; to show the way. As a kid I didn't understand the time, effort, and sacrifice it took to be the “someone there.”

My parents were incredible role models. Church on Sunday, helping with the work days at church, teaching Sunday School and writing devotions to share as a deacon or deaconess, arriving early to prepare communion, and helping with Church Camp in the summers. That took a sacrifice of time and resources to help improve the bigger picture. 

Jesus knew the sacrifice. HE KNEW! And yet, he still did it. Even to this day the thought of how much he loves me - how much he sacrifices for me – is overwhelming. 

As an adult, I get the time, energy, and resources it takes to be “the someone who is there.” Is it worth it? Yes, I believe so!
We could never be the light that Jesus was but we can be a light. Listen to Thomas Rhett’s “Be a Light" and then go BE a Light.

Dear God, Thank you for your Son, thank you for the Light! Help me to reflect it in any way I can. Amen​

​~~~~~~

​BE A LIGHT by Thomas Rhett
​(go here to listen)

In a time full of war, be peace
In a time full of doubt, just believe
Yeah, there ain't that much difference between you and me
In a time full of war, be peace
In a world full of hate, be a light

When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

(La-la-la, la, la, la, la)

In a place that needs change, make a difference
In a time full of noise, just listen
'Cause life is but a breeze, better live it
In a place that needs a change, make a difference
In a world full of hate, be a light

When you do somebody wrong, make it right
Oh, don't hide in the dark, you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

La-la-la, la, la, la, la
La-la-la, la, la, la, la
La-la-la, la, la, la, la
La-la-la, la, la, la, la

In a race that you can't win, slow it down
Yeah, you only get one go around
'Cause the finish line is six feet in the ground
In a race you can't win, just slow it down
In a world full of hate, be a light (oh)

When you do somebody wrong, make it right (make it right)
Don't hide in the dark (don't hide in the dark), you were born to shine
In a world full of hate, be a light

Yeah, it's hard to live in color, when you just see black and white
In a world full of hate, be a light

​Think About Excellent Things
By Pam Hardenbrook

Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. Philippians 4:8

Jim and I were serving our first full-time pastorate in Bellingham, Washington, and had completed our first year. It was time for the church board to review Jim’s salary package. I think they were paying us $600 a month and a motion was on the table to raise the salary by $50 a month. We really could use the raise. We were renting a dumpy little house with hot and cold running mice, and our first baby was on the way. I wasn’t at the meeting, but Jim told me all about it afterwards.

One of the deacons on the board was a grouchy old miserly fellow. You could always count on this deacon to be negative and argumentative in most situations. Long story short, he convinced the board not to increase our salary.

After that board meeting, Jim came home hurt and angry. He had a fomenting dislike of this man, and I could see that it could ruin his ministry. So we prayed about it and came up with a plan based on Philippians 4:8. We decided to apply that teaching to our attitudes about that deacon. We began to look for any true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy characteristics in him. It took some doing, but we came up with some. The deacon was faithful. He attended every worship service and event at the church. He was a hard worker and offered his muscle and expertise whenever something needed moving or fixing. We began to thank God for those attributes, but we also told him what we appreciated about him. I’d like to say that he became sweeter, kinder, and more generous, but that didn’t happen. What did happen was that WE became sweeter, kinder, and more generous toward him. His cantankerousness didn’t steal our joy.

Do you have a cantankerous person in your life? This Lenten season is a good time to examine your thoughts and attitudes. Try applying this passage to that person; focus on things in that person that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, or worthy of praise. Maybe God can use that troublesome person to transform and purify you.

Holy Lord, open my eyes to the true, noble, right and pure characteristics of people in my life. Instead of dwelling on negative things, help me to think about what is lovely and worthy of respect in the lives of others. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, give me the grace and boldness to speak of those things. To your eternal glory, amen.

​How Does Jesus Speak to You?
By Letha Essinger

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes may not die but have eternal life. John 3:16   (Good News Bible)

I can't remember when my love of music wasn't there. My older sisters always sang harmony while doing dishes. In our one room school in Kansas, music was a bright spot every day. I could memorize anything set to music! In that same one room school we had Sunday school, and learned “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” I could hardly wait for Sunday! What a wonderful experience!

As an adult, singing in church and in church choirs has blessed my soul. How much I miss singing in church during this COVID shut-down! So I will be singing to myself all the beloved hymns of Lent and Easter. One that I particularly love speaks of Jesus love for each of us. It's one of the hymns that bring me peace. Sometimes I sing it in my mind as I'm going to sleep, or when I'm undergoing a medical procedure.

O How He Loves You and Me 
O how He loves you and me!
O how he loves you and me!
He gave his life, what more can he give?
O how he loves you;
O how he loves me;
O how he loves you and me!

Jesus to Calv'ry did go;
His love for sinners to show.
What he did there
brought hope from despair.
O how he loves you;
O how he loves me;
O how he loves you and me!
​
Take a deep breath, breathing in God's Spirit and calm, let the breath out slowly, releasing all that distracts you. Read or sing the words of the song in an attitude of Thanksgiving. Thank you, Holy Lord, for your wonderful gifts of love and grace and eternal life. Amen

The Sacrifice
By Kay Haley
​
And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice of God. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)

April 8, 2011, I was building two large stage props for a passion play to be performed at our church for Good Friday. To construct the props, I was forming wire mesh into the shape of a life size figure of Jesus, to hang on a tall cross in the church yard. As I was finishing up and was amazed of how lifelike he was, I realized my hand was bleeding. I had cut it on the rough edges of the wire. I wasn’t in pain but I felt at that moment I needed to sit down, not because I was bleeding but because I was profoundly shocked at the realization of the sacrifice that was made for me. It was as if time had stopped. I remember repeating this verse several times throughout the following days of working on this project: 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

Each year during the time of Lent, 40 days before Easter, I recall this emotional time in my life. Today when I think about the Lenten season I give thanks for this season to focus my walk with Jesus and where I am going with Him this year. It’s a time to look at all the opportunities to grow, to learn, to pray, to sacrifice my “cluttered life” for a more meaningful God centered life.

Lent is our opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the cross. The cross is where we can place our faith, our salvation, and our hope fully in God’s hands.
​
Loving God, Help me to open my heart and let everything I do come from you. Help me to be aware and thankful for the many ways you reach out to me to help me each day. Lead me think beyond my own wants and fill me with the desire to do your will, Amen.​

Introduction: Please read first!

In the midst of a global pandemic, the United Methodist Churches of Fruitland and Payette, Idaho endured hardships never before experienced. Our congregations were not allowed to meet in person for thirteen months. Although the churches joined forces to provide recorded worship services each week, worship just was not the same as were used to, and the fellowship we craved was beyond our reach.

Despite the strictures we faced, the congregations remained strong, generous and united. God's charitable people continued to support their congregations financially, and they found ways to reach out to others both in church and in the community. Out of their loving hearts, church members and friends provided thousands of dollars in the form of grocery gift cards to needy families in our neighborhoods.

As the 2021 Lenten Season approached, we wanted to come together in another way. We decided to promote the idea of providing daily devotions written for and by our church people. The outpouring of support was nearly as inspiring as the devotions people wrote from their hearts.

For the 40-plus days of 2022 Lenten Season, audible recordings of these devotions, along with the printed text will be posted once again on a daily basis for you to enjoy, meditate on, and be blessed. 

​Now, start the recording and enjoy the first posting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
​Doing Lent
By Roxie Tolbert

"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 20:18-19

Our daughter-in-law, Wendy, got a phone call, a few weeks before Easter, from our granddaughter Trisha, who was away at college. Trisha was very upset and told her mother that she had just found out that she wasn't doing Lent correctly. She said that she had just learned that she was supposed to give up meat for Lent and instead she had been giving up her favorite daily fancy coffee drink from Starbucks. Trisha was attending St. Mary's College, a private Catholic college, and part of the requirement was attending worship services. Apparently it was suggested in the service that it was appropriate to fast from meat. Wendy explained to Trisha that, as she didn't care one way or the other if she ate meat, it would not be a sacrifice for her; so to give up her precious coffee drink was, of course, the right way to fast during Lent for her.

I've had several interesting conversations around doing Lent—everything from being told that, as a Methodist, I can't do Lent because it's only for Catholics (and, no, this bit of wisdom did not come from someone who was actually Catholic) to friends asking me if I do Lent, how I do Lent and if they should do Lent the way I do. My first reaction when someone asked about doing Lent instead of observing Lent was that Lent is a Christian season, not an activity. After giving it a little more thought, I realized that I couldn't be more incorrect. Lent is something you do.

Lent is our time of spiritual preparation before Easter. Preparation, any kind of preparation, requires activity. Some suggested activities are fasting, spiritual discipline, repentance, moderation, and self-denial. Lent is the time when we make an extra effort to draw closer to God – to really think about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifice that was made for us—the gift that was given to us. The suggested activities provide both time and constant reminders for us during Lent—something to keep us centered during this special time.

So, how do we do Lent? We do it in the way that is the most meaningful to each of us. We do it in the way that brings us closer to our amazing God who loves us so much that he gave his Son to us and for us. However you do lent, do Lent.
​
Lord, we seek to come closer to you through our Lenten disciplines. May they be a gateway between You and each of us. Amen