Day Twelve: Sun., March 1
What We Do Know
John 3:2 “He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’”
Nicodemus thought he knew a lot about God, and that he knew a thing or two about Jesus. But in the verses that follow, he realizes he knows a lot less than he thought he did. Jesus confounds and surprises him with his message about being born again, the movement of God’s Spirit, and Father’s love for all the world. It makes me think of this scene from the movie Men in Black when Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) pulls back the curtain on everything prospective Agent J (Will Smith) knew for certain, and says, “Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.”
Perhaps one way to know God comes from confessing how much we don’t know, declaring our ignorance and desperate attempts to put God in a box or pin God down. This sort of confession takes humility, and a loosening up of our grip that wants to control. That can be scary. I wonder if Nicodemus was scared? Most people in the Bible are (as are those in our own day, too) as they step into this “cloud of unknowing.” Might you dare loosen your grip on what you think you know of God, and step into the dark night with Jesus, open to being surprised by the God who meets you there?
Rabbi, we have so many questions. Help us believe where we cannot see. Help us trust your love that is the foundation and the salvation of all the world. Amen.
Rev. Wil Posey – Murphy, NC
Spend less time on your phone or computer today.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Thirteen – Mon., March 2
The Savior, Declared
John 4:39-42 “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’”
Whenever Pastor Wil begins the Children’s Moment with the words “I wonder . . . ,” I am immediately hooked! The child in me (there’s one in each of us) and the kids sitting before him, we all get quiet and lean in, also wondering . . . what will he say next?
Concerning the Scripture passage above, I wonder what it was like for those Samaritans who witnessed Jesus’ physical presence.
Which brings to mind another “I Wonder.” Arguably the most famous song to ever come out of Murphy, NC is “I Wonder as I Wander,” discovered when folklorist John Jacob Niles heard a poor mountain girl sing it here. First performed at the Folk School in 1933, Niles’ haunting version endures.
I recently discovered that over the years I have misconstrued one of the words–probably because I learned the song as a child, and kids can get lyrics mixed up! The first verse goes “I wonder as I wander out under the sky, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die—for poor on’ry people like you and like I. I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.”
All these many years, I thought “on’ry” stood for the word “ornery.” Come to find out, scholars mostly agree it actually refers to the word “ordinary.”
Not to nitpick that lyric, but I feel each of God’s children is an extraordinary, not ordinary creation, albeit some of us may be of ordinary means. And no doubt we are all pretty ornery at times! Jesus came to die for ornery/ordinary/extraordinary people, like you and me. The Samaritans in John 4, at first ornery in their disbelief, were convinced of Jesus’ divinity once they had heard Him for themselves. They declared, “we know that this is indeed the Savior of the World.” Their testimony echoes through the centuries.
What a wonder! A wonder to ponder, and to declare, as we wander through our journey of Lent, out under the skies of Murphy, NC.
Holy God, thank you for your extraordinary Creation. Forgive us, we pray, for we confess we are ornery at times. Thank you for sending Your Son, a personal Savior. Amen.
Judi Teston- Ranger, NC
As you have the opportunity, pay for the drink of the person behind you in line.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Fourteen: Tues., March 3
Listening for God’s Word
John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”
Lent is a time for quiet reflection and an opportunity to deepen my relationship with God. Relationships are built on speaking and listening. Sometimes I feel as though I’m just talking but not a good listener. Is the word of God truly his or merely my own thoughts?
When Jesus was preparing his disciples, he promised to send them the Holy Spirit that would reside in them and guide them to the truth. So, if I am unsure, I can trust that Holy Spirit is there guiding me if I will focus on Him.
Dear Lord, help me to focus on You and listen with discernment.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Robin Burnette – Murphy, NC
Try a new recipe and cook something new.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Fifteen: Wed., March 4
John 13:34-35 NRSV “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus said this not once, but three times to his disciples in a short period of time. It is repeated in John 15:12 and John 15:17. How important is this statement? I think very important for us.
These passages make me think of the song, “They’ll know that we are Christians by our love.” That is who I want to be. I want my actions to speak loudly of my love. Not just for my family and friends, but for all.
Prayer–
Lord, help me to love like Jesus did. Help me to love wholly with all of my being, not just those I care about, but everyone – no matter their actions.
Ursala Lasky – Murphy, NC
Making mistakes means we are learning and growing. Don’t ever stop learning.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Sixteen: Thurs., March 5
Up and Out
John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during the Last Supper, preparing them for the challenges ahead. He was honest about the difficulties they would face, including persecution, hardships, and trials.
I grew up in the farmlands of Northern Illinois. I became very familiar with cold (cold!) winters. My family lived on a state highway, and I witnessed the damage done by these frigid temps to the asphalt roads, especially once the sub-zero weather abated, and a thaw ensued. Then the undergirds of the highway would heave upwards wherever there was a “seam,” pushing up and out, creating a nasty bump that quickly crumbled!
The fix? Scrape out the roughage caused by the bulging road, and cover it over with new blacktop. In a way, this reminds me of Jesus’ words in today’s Scripture. The burdens of this world – like sin, sickness, and loss – can cause an upheaval in our lives. And just as with the broken pavement, the “roughage” created by our trials and sorrows needs to be removed, and the wounds covered over with Jesus’ love and forgiveness. Because Christ has overcome the world!
Prayer: Dear Lord, You remind us that while we will face trials and sorrows in this world, we have the assurance of peace and victory through Jesus Christ. Let us hold fast to his promise, knowing that He has overcome the world. Amen.
Kerry Archer, Murphy, NC
Put more energy into the things that bring me joy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Seventeen: Fri., March 6
Love
John 15:12 & John 13:34-35 “ ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ “ “ ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ “
At Soul Table one day, one of our regulars came and sat next to me. She had a band aid on one of her fingers. The band aid had lost its stickiness, and she kept trying to put it back on. It was obviously bothering her. I know how loose band aids bother me. I asked one of our volunteers for a band aid. She brought one and gave it to our guest.
After thanking us and putting it on, her reply was. “I feel loved.” Who knew that something as small as a band aid could have such a big impact on her. I think this is one of the purposes of Soul Table — to show that we love our neighbors.
Prayer –
Thank you, God. Help us be aware of opportunities to share simple acts of kindness that can reflect your love. Amen
Sharon Francis – Murphy, NC
Smile and say hello to people you pass.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Eighteen: Sat., March 7
“This Year, Count Me Out”
John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
This year, I will not “do” Lent. I will not walk the Via Dolorosa. I will not weep at the foot of the cross. I will not linger at the empty tomb. This year, and maybe from now on, I will celebrate Advent. Because Advent is where we are. We are waiting. We have been waiting for millennia. Our only Hope is in waiting, because He promised He’d be back. He promised that what the Father had told the prophets would one day happen, and that it would start with His return. He took His light with him when he returned to the Father, and our little flames cannot hold back the darkness, and the darkness in our world is getting really black. So, I can’t grieve through the 40 days of Lent – I’m trying to keep my little flame lit and to do that I have to cling to His Hope. And that Hope is in Advent 2.0.
Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen.
Sue Bell – Murphy, NC
Collect and display things that are important for you to make you feel holy and happy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Nineteen: Sun., March 8
In Common
John 4:9 “The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)”
One of my favorite places to visit with our children is the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I love how their exhibits let you follow the journey of water from the clouds that shower the earth with water and snow, to the high mountain streams that trickle over the rocks and even flow underground, to the rivers in the valley (like our own Hiwassee and Valley Rivers), to lakes and big rivers, all the way to the ocean. And then the journey begins again.
Reach your hand into a river today. Seriously, go to a river or stream and scoop some water with your bare hand. Imagine the indiscriminate, life-giving journey this water has been on—all the life it has touched and nourished. Then consider: have we been conditioned, like this woman from Samaria, to really believe that there are other people with whom we don’t share things in common? Do we need separate wells? Bigger walls? Are there forces that wish to disciple us into a belief that there are others with whom we do not share a common humanity? Who is the person or the people group you’d rather talk bad about or avoid rather than come to the well with? Touch the water again. Imagine the indiscriminate, life-giving “living water” that binds us all—humans, hellbender salamanders, big ole balsams, blue birds, and squirrels. Let yourself feel the life of Jesus that binds us all. Rest in that place. Live from that place.
Lord Jesus Christ, give us a drink of your living water so we can draw true life from you, and remember with gratitude our place within your human family, all of whom are made in your image. Amen.
Rev. Wil Posey – Murphy, NC
Daylight Saving Time begins today – the promise of Spring awaits!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Twenty: Mon., March 9
Read John 6:23-40 “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.’ ” (John 6:25)
I love how Jesus speaks to us about how much God loves us and always has. The way I hold on this reading is simple. I trust in him wholeheartedly with my heart and soul. I thank him for the grace he has given by the ultimate sacrifice of his blood that was shed on the cross for us that day long ago.
The people asked Jesus, “What work must we do for God?,” and he answered, “Believe in him who he has sent.” He didn’t present a complicated instruction to the people. He just asked us to trust and believe in the one who God sent us.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Trust and believe in the one that God sent us.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to save us from ourselves. Help us to spread his glorious message of hope, love, forgiveness, and promise of eternal life for those who truly believe.
My grandson Reese (age 8) asked to add his prayer please – Dear God, please help our souls & please help the sick, those who need healing, and the homeless. Amen.
Leigh Ann Preston – Murphy, NC
Hold the door for the person behind you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Day Twenty-One: Tues., March 10
Foggy Mornings
John 16:16 and 20 “Jesus went on to say, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’ ‘Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.’ “
One of the most fascinating things about living in the mountains is the fog. It can settle in the valleys and over the lake so thick that everything disappears. Maybe there is the top sliver of a mountain ridge peeking out to ground me and give a sense of direction.
I enjoy sitting on our deck on foggy mornings watching and reflecting. On some days I feel a peaceful quiet and sense of awe enveloped in the misty cloud. Other days it’s so thick and lingers too long and becomes disconcerting. But “in a little while”, the sun will break through and the fog will lift. I can count on this —eventually the fog does lift and I can see clearly again.
My own faith journey reflects this cycle. I can become overwhelmed by the fog of uncertainty, doubt, fear or grief. “Lord, I can’t see my way through. Are you with me?” But, I cling to the promise of the resurrection and the joy of Easter – the sun will shine, the fog will lift, and my sorrow will turn to joy.
In our deepest times of uncertainty, may we rest in the promise and the hope of the resurrection.
Gerri Schutes – Topton, NC
Rather than being fearful, focus only on that which we desire- good health and wholeness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~