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Scripture: John 11:40 CEB “Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” It shows up in so many different ways each and every day. It can be as simple as a sunrise, your feet hitting the floor at the start of another day, or a smile from someone you love. It can be a song on the radio that causes you to remember a special moment, an email from a friend who cares, or a lunch date and conversation. Today I saw it in a young woman who is answering the call to ministry as a pastor. I experienced it at lunch with a couple whose commitment to each other is inspiring. I witnessed it in a gentleman who was working hard to earn a living to support his family. I noticed it in the faces of friends and fellow believers in Jesus Christ. God’s glory is all around us and just waiting for us to see it. To think of it theologically, everything we see and the things we don’t see were created by God. All of the experiences we have on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis take place within the created order. We were created by God. In fact, we are created in the image and likeness of God. As the psalmists writes, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Everything that God created God declared good. Which means God’s glory is all around us. When we wake up in the morning and hear the birds in the tree, see the squirrels running around, and feel the breeze blowing … that’s God’s handiwork. The question we need to ask ourselves is … are we seeing it? In the reading for today, Jesus is telling Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, they should have believed. Jesus was too late in getting to Lazarus. His friend had died and was in the tomb several days before Jesus got there. Lazarus’ sisters were very upset and told Jesus, “If you had only been here …” Jesus wept for his friend. Jesus was also moved out of compassion to do something. He calls out to Lazarus and Lazarus comes out of the tomb alive again. Obviously, his sisters were amazed! Jesus says to them, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” If they had believed fully they would have known Jesus had the ability to raise their brother from the dead. Instead, they saw God’s glory after the miracle had occurred. What would it have been like for them if they believed before the miracle? Today will you see God’s glory? It starts with believing. Believe that God can and will do amazing things today. Be on the lookout for the glory sightings God has in store for you. It could be as simple as some of the examples in the first paragraph. It could also be as miraculous as divine healing, life transformation, miraculous protection, and so much more. Will you see God’s glory today? Start out the day believing and you will see! Prayer: Amazing and glorious God, thank you for all you have created. Thank you for creating me just the way I am, for I AM fearfully and wonderfully made. Help me to see your glory today in the big and small moments. Empower me to be in tune with your Holy Spirit and aware of your presence. I will be sure to give you the honor and praise. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 10:21a CEB “At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit …” Have you ever seen pictures or experienced firsthand when cities open a fire hydrant? Usually, cities do this periodically to release pressure from the lines and to ensure that the fire hydrant is working properly. Occasionally, cities have been known to open the fire hydrants when it is really hot. This allows the kids to cool off as the water is released. A New Yorker article featured pictures of kids playing in the water streaming out of the overflowing fire hydrant. Not only was the water cooling everyone down, it was also bringing a lot of laughter and joy. The water was flowing from the source, overflowing out from the pipes underneath the streets through the fire hydrant and offering relief to the people around. What a fun scene and what a great way to offer relief to people on a hot day. Whenever I read this passage about Jesus, I think of this type of scene. I know there was no water flowing from anywhere near Jesus in this story. However, I can picture in my mind a steady stream of the Holy Spirit flowing from its source in heaven down through Jesus and overflowing out to the people around him. How contagious would it have been to see Jesus overflowing with joy from the Holy Spirit? I would have so loved to be there in that moment. To see Jesus smiling and laughing with joy because of what the Holy Spirit was doing in and through him. To be downright giddy because of what God, the Father, was doing in his midst. What a privilege and pleasure it would be to have witnessed that firsthand. Have you ever experienced this type of joy from the Holy Spirit? Have you known anyone else who had this type of joy? The people who seem to experience this type of joy are typically very mature in their faith. They seem to be so in tune with the Holy Spirit that they feel exceeding joy when the work of the Holy Spirit is accomplished in and through them. The joy will usually manifest itself in excitement, laughter, and contentment. If you have experienced this type of joy, you know that there is nothing quite like it. There also is no doubt that it is from God. In Jesus' case, the overflowing of joy came directly from the Holy Spirit because he was witnessing God revealing God’s purposes to those who needed to see them at the time. It was all part of God’s plan of redemption and the demonstration of God’s great love for humanity in Jesus Christ himself. Will you pray that the Holy Spirit may cause your spirit to overflow with joy today? If you will commit to do God’s will in all that you think, say, and do today, it very well may happen. Be on the lookout for the movement of the Holy Spirit. Where will you see God move today? As you recognize where God wants to move in and through you, the Holy Spirit will fill you. Give more and more of yourself and yield your will to what God wants for you today. It is in those times that the Holy Spirit can and will overflow out of our life. May you be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power today and every day. Prayer: Gracious and loving God, thank you for loving me and giving your Son, Jesus, on my behalf. Fill me with your Holy Spirit today. I pray that I will be made less and less today so that you will be made more and more. May your will be done through my thoughts, words, and actions. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 9:29 CEB “He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” A team of about 25 people had been preparing for months. The team arrived before the participants and got everything ready for their arrival. The time of preparation was a wonderful time of anticipating all that God would do over the weekend retreat experience. The participants, and many of the team members, were college students. This was a pivotal time in their lives where a lot of decisions were being made that directly affected their future. The team all knew how important the weekend could be for the participants. They knew because they had been there before and all attended the same retreat at a different time in their lives. Every one of them found it meaningful and wanted to serve and help others to have a similar experience. We were all set for the weekend and had one last time of prayer with the team before the participants arrived. As the participants arrived and the retreat officially began, there was one participant that was very reluctant and unsure. Through every step of the retreat he became more and more resistant. At the end of the first day of the retreat the leaders gathered to discuss how things were going and any adjustments that might be needed. This young man was brought up and we discussed what we should do. It was decided that we needed to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to work. On the second day it appeared our prayers were not working. At around noon the young man had packed his bags and was leaving the retreat. Many on the leadership team believed we should not let him leave. One of the members said, “We have to let him leave, but we also have to pray for him.” So, we let him leave and we began to pray even harder. Well, about two hours later the young man returned. As he returned he spoke to the leadership to tell us what had happened. As his girlfriend was driving him home, he was overwhelmed with the feeling that he should return. As adamant as he had been about leaving, he was even more convinced he should return. He could only say that he believed God was telling him he had made a mistake and needed to return. The only thing that had changed was his heart. I believe it was because we stepped up our prayer efforts on his behalf. I think of this experience from my life every time I read the above Scripture verse. There are things in everyone’s life that can only come out by prayer. It most likely is not demon possession as the context of the verse describes. However, it may be something else that we have allowed to possess us. We many times allow sin, shame, guilt, embarrassment, or other issues to possess us. We allow them more head space and power over our life than they deserve. The things we insist on holding onto and allow to possess us are very difficult to get out of our life. These are the things that can only come out by prayer. We need to pray that God would empower us to jettison these things from our lives and keep them from possessing us. We cannot do this in our own power. We need God’s help for these things to be gone. We need to realize and confess that these things can only come out by prayer. What possesses you today? Take it to God in prayer. Invite others to pray for you as well. If it is something deeply personal find one godly friend whom you can confide in and ask him or her to pray for you. If it is something you have been dealing with for a long time, realize that you cannot do it alone. These things can only come out by prayer. You are not weak or defeated … you need prayer. Take stock of what is possessing you today and give it to God in prayer: the guilt, the shame, the loneliness. Give it all to God in prayer. If you are dealing with deep issues of blame, guilt, shame, etc., please speak to someone. I would recommend talking to your Pastor, a Christian Counselor, or a well-respected and godly friend. You do not have to go through deep issues alone. Prayer: Holy God, I do not want to let anything possess me. I want to offer whatever is possessing me to you by prayer. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Allow me to follow you and you alone. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to give all my life to you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: John 6:10 CEB “Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them.” Let’s start out with a question today … how many times have you either read or heard this story taught or preached about? I have read this story more times than I can count. I also have preached on it many times and heard others preach on it many times. I thought I had considered all of the angles on this account of Jesus’ ministry. Then I was rereading the story for today’s devotion and something different stood out. It was two words, “sit down.” In The Gospel of John, we read, “Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them.” I had never paid any attention to those two words before now. So, I began to ask myself why they were standing out this time. Out of all the incredible things in this story, why did those two words make a difference at this time. I started praying for God to show me why. The first thing that stood out to me is the obvious nature of the directive. Jesus most likely decides that if they were going to serve them lunch they should sit down and get comfortable. That makes a lot of sense to me. It would have also been more manageable to distribute the food if the people were organized to receive. There was definitely a practical aspect to the command of Jesus to have the people sit down in an orderly fashion. The second thing that I noticed is that the place was appropriate to the fulfilling of this request. Jesus did not ask his disciples to have the people sit on a bunch of dirt or rocks. Jesus was asking them to get comfortable and knew that this was a place where that was possible. The last thing I noticed is that the people responded and “… sat down, about five thousand of them.” I have never tried to get five thousand people to do anything all at once. Yet, Jesus asked his disciples to have five thousand people sit down and they did. Jesus had a plan for them and they were ready to receive a miracle. In our life Jesus gives us many directives and asks us to move to action for him. I believe these lessons from above will help us respond. First, we can recognize when Jesus is asking to do something because it will have a practical nature to it. We may not recognize this at first. In fact, it may seem so much larger than we can imagine (like feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish). Jesus will ask us to do the practical, or possible, and he will take care of the miracle. Second, we will be in the right place at the right time for what Jesus is asking us to do. Jesus won’t ask us to do anything for which he hasn’t already provided the right place. We may feel out of place, but Jesus will have us in the exact right place for what he wants us to do (like a grassy place for 5,000 people). Last, we will be moved to respond to whatever it is Jesus is asking of us. We most likely will not know everything about what Jesus is asking for, but we will be moved to respond (like 5,000 people sitting and 12 disciples feeding). The application for me has to do with our willingness to sit down. Where is Jesus asking you to sit down today? It could be we are one of the five thousand who will experience the miracle of God’s abundant provision. It could also be that we are one of the twelve called to do the possible and watch God do the impossible. However, we may also be the boy with the loaves and fish who is asked to give whatever we have so that Jesus can bless it and multiply it for his kingdom purpose. The one thing I know for certain in this whole scenario is everyone involved was blessed. Everyone experienced the great abundance of God’s provision in and through the Son, Jesus Christ. Where are you being called to sit down to work with and witness Christ today? Prayer: Holy God, when you ask me to sit I will sit. When you ask me to stand I will stand. Empower me to do the possible today and allow you to do the impossible. When I see you move in abundance today I will give you praise. In Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 19:15 CEB “Then he blessed the children and went away from there.” There is a new store in our area that opened a few weeks ago. They are still working out the kinks of a new store with new employees. This was evident on a recent visit when nothing seemed to go smoothly with our visit. It took a very long time to put together an order at the deli. Employees seemed to not be very well trained on how to accomplish the task which they were charged with completing. Coworkers were consulting each other and no one seemed to have the answer. The checkout lines were long and seemed to not move at all. We moved over to the express lane, which was truly false advertising, only to wait some more. At one point I looked over at Debbie and we just had to laugh, it was becoming quite comical. We ended up waiting for quite a bit longer before the checkout process was complete and we were on our way. Honestly, I anticipated a quick visit to this store for some lunch and it ended up being an unfortunate adventure. One thing did happen that made me think. While we were waiting at the register to check out, an employee ahead of us in line was buying her lunch. Evidently, employees get a discount on their purchase. To receive the discount, the cashier had to call for a “Code 1.” I quickly learned that a Code 1 referred to a manager’s approval. So, the manager came over and entered the code and the employee paid and was on her way. However, the manager then took the opportunity to perform a price check on several items she had brought with her. This took several minutes while a large number of us waited in line. When the manager had finished, the cashier called for the next person. Debbie happened to be next and as she walked up I jokingly said, “Try not to be a Code 1!” The cashier started laughing and said that was the funniest thing she had heard that day. Then she said, “I needed that laugh! That just blessed me! Thank you.” It was a silly statement, but it had a great result. The moment represented in today’s Scripture verse was an unplanned moment. Jesus was traveling through the area of Judea teaching and healing. As he made his way through town some parents brought their kids to Jesus to be blessed. You probably know that his disciples tried to stop them. Jesus tells them to let the kids come to him because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them. It says that, “Then he blessed the children and went away from there.” How long could it have taken him to stop and bless the children? It was literally a few minutes out of his day. Yet, it was something that would make someone else’s whole day. Jesus had many, many of those moments in his ministry. Jesus would take time to make sure someone else was blessed. It didn’t matter whether it was a parent bringing their child, a woman touching his hem, a man calling out his name, a tax collector climbing a tree, or the request of a criminal from a cross. Jesus made sure people were blessed. Who will be blessed because they interacted with you today? You don’t have to share your whole faith story with them, unless that is what God is leading you to do. Today start with offering love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I shared the story above not out of pride, rather I was so humbled that something as silly as my comment could be a blessing. When we offer people the fruit of the spirit, especially when they might be expecting the opposite, they are blessed. Seek out those opportunities to make sure people are blessed by your interactions with them. Be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and in control of yourself. In the times we live in I guarantee that people will notice. I also guarantee they will be blessed. Prayer: Gracious God, you have shown your abundant grace to me over and over and over and over again. When I least deserve it, you continue to offer your amazing grace. While I was still a sinner you gave yourself for me. I know this shows just how much you love me. Empower me and lead me through your Holy Spirit to bless others today. Make me an instrument of your love and peace today. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35 CEB “Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.” I will remember the path we traveled as long as I live. We were driven to a very small village market where just about everything you could imagine was being sold. Little stands lined the street with their goods in the open air for would be customers to see. It was a busy place and a lot of people were buying goods and walking the street. We made our way down to the river at the end of the street. At the river bank were boats. They were small boats and some of them looked like they were homemade. The boats were the only way to get across the river. The river was a very fast moving river and the water was pretty high this day. Once we made it across the river, we walked a narrow path with handmade huts and buildings on either side. Once we arrived at our destination we were surrounded by a sea of people, mostly children, welcoming us to their village. Our time was spent learning from the health educators and kids and showing them how to make the prepackaged meals we would give them. Then we said our goodbyes and made the trek back to our vehicle and back to the mission. It was a journey I will never forget. All of this took place in Zambia, Africa as a small group of leaders from St. Andrew’s traveled to the small village known as Mufuchani. The thing I remember most about this trip is praying every minute of the journey. As we walked through the market place I prayed for the people selling their goods because this was how they fed their family. As we boarded the boats I prayed for our safe crossing and for the guides who would spend all day taking people back and forth across the river. By the way, did I mention that the Kafue River was crocodile infested? As we walked the narrow path to the school house in the village I prayed for the people in the small huts along the way. When we gathered with the children and their families I prayed for their health, for God’s provision of food, for their future. Of course, the same prayers were offered on the way back. I know that all of us who were traveling the path that day were offering similar prayers. It was a profound experience and one that helped shape our understanding of praying on the way. How many times are we moved to pray like this as we journey through our day? We see so many things in the course of a day and we are not always paying attention enough to pray. We may have become oblivious to the homeless person walking down the street, the parent who is struggling to get their kids to school before they head to work, or the person in the car next to us who is already having a bad day. A part of the journey in life is noticing the other people on the journey with us. Traveling isn’t just what we do on vacation, it is what we do every day. Jesus traveled to many different places and interacted with many different people every day of his ministry. The amazing thing is what he noticed and who he noticed. Jesus was moved to help those who no one else really seemed to notice. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, and challenged the authorities. Jesus prayed with and for those who were most in need. Jesus gave us an example of what we should be looking for on our daily travels. The challenge for all of us today is to pray on the way. Will you be more alert today to those around you? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to move you to pray for the people you might normally overlook? We don’t have to travel to Africa to notice people who need our prayer. We have the opportunity to pray on the way today. God will allow you to see more people today who need your prayer if you will commit to being more aware. You never know who you will see on your travels today. So invite the Holy Spirit to open your eyes today. Seek people and places along your travels today for whom you will pray. As you do this you will find more divine opportunities, unexpected blessings, Holy Spirit moments, and new possibilities. Just open yourself today to pray on the way. Prayer: Holy God, I am excited about who you will place in my path today. Open my eyes and allow me to see the people I may normally overlook. Move me to pray for whoever and whatever you want. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to all you would have for me as I pray on the way this day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 6:5 CEB “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get.” The pomp and circumstance is almost always predictable. The attendees are dressed to the hilt in way too expensive clothes and wearing way too expensive jewelry. A lot of the times the clothes and jewelry are on loan from the designer. The smiles are big and the poses held while dozens of cameras click and flash. The scene is all preparation for an even bigger event being held inside some big, fancy theater or auditorium. To a certain degree it is just surreal. These elaborate awards ceremonies honor actors, directors, editors, sound effects, digital effects, wardrobe designers, cinematographers, set designers, musicians, entertainers, songwriters, producers, and the list goes on. More recently event sports have entered the fray with the ESPYs. We love to watch the big celebrations for these awards; it’s quite a show for everyone to see. In the award shows mentioned above, the winner will head home with an Emmy, Tony, Oscar, ESPY, Grammy, or an AMA. They also will receive the accolades of the awarding body and the adoring public. There is an increased amount of attention and fame that goes along with winning as well. The issue with this all is that it is a fleeting recognition. Can you recall the actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2014 in the next five seconds? Neither can I. All the very expensive glitz and glamor is for one night. All the accolades last for a time. The reward, or award, received for being the winner is more of a show than anything. Yet, people work very hard for the honor. It is something very desired in whichever field the award is the pinnacle of recognition. It is great theater. There were a group of religious leaders in the time of Jesus who would have loved these award ceremonies. The Pharisees and the Sadducees loved to be looked up to and seen. They would wear fancy outfits and pray fancy prayers. Jesus said they did this “in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them.” They were seen for sure and some people truly thought that was what it was all about. Just like some people may think the awards ceremonies are what acting, singing, playing are all about. Of course, we know that there are many great entertainers and athletes who become the best in their discipline because they love it; then the accolades follow. But Jesus is saying to be weary of those religious leaders who are seeking attention and accolades for themselves. They are doing it for the wrong reason. The accolades of human beings will be the only reward they will receive. Jesus goes on to say, in verse six, that it is better to pray to God in solitude. It is best to meet in private with God and reveal the desires of our heart and listen for what God desires for us. When we do this our reward is eternal. This type of prayer keeps us focused on building God’s kingdom and not our own. Today make time to spend in private, your prayer room, with God. Seek no other reward than those sacred moments with God. Then go out and serve others, sharing the love, grace, and mercy of Christ humbly. Do all of this without seeking recognition or praise. In this, Jesus will be glorified and his love will be made real. Prayer: Lord, Jesus, I want to spend time in prayer with you today. Guide me through your Holy Spirit to see the ways I can serve and not the ways I may be served. May everything I think, do, and say bring all honor, glory, and praise to you God. May my life point people to you today. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 9:18 CEB “Once when Jesus was praying by himself, the disciples joined him, and he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’” Have you ever wondered what people think of you? Maybe to put it in different terms … do you ever think about if your life is having an impact on the people around you? Perhaps you wonder if you have done everything you could for your family. Maybe you have thought about whether your work will have any lasting usefulness or meaning. It’s normal to take stock of your life in this way. We all seek to live lives of purpose and meaning. We hope that we are making a difference in the lives of the people we love, work with, and encounter on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter what we do to earn money either, whatever we do we can make a difference and live a life of great purpose and meaning. Our identity is not what we do, our identity is who we are. In the Scripture for today, Jesus was praying alone when the disciples joined him (we might read interrupted him). The passage does not tell us what Jesus was praying about. Jesus had just fed the five thousand people with just a young man’s lunch. As the disciples come to him Jesus asks them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” One might be able to conclude that Jesus was praying about the impression he had left on the crowds that day. Did they really know who was feeding them, physically and spiritually? It is possible that Jesus was talking with God the Father about their plan for his time on earth and the effect his ministry was having. Who do they really think Jesus is and what is Jesus really doing? The disciples tell him that the crowds are saying that Jesus is one of the prophets of old come back. Jesus then asks them, “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus wants to know if his own disciples understand who he is. This is when Peter answers, “(You are) the Christ sent from God.” Peter understands in this moment who Jesus is and not just what Jesus has done. Peter was right! Jesus was The Christ sent from God. Everything Jesus did was because of this identity. Peter would later learn that his identity was so much more than being a person who traveled with Jesus. Peter would learn that his identity came from Christ. Because of who Jesus said that he was, Peter would be the rock on which Jesus would build the whole church. Just like Peter, our identity comes from who Jesus says we are and nowhere else. No matter what the world says, what your coworkers or friends say, what your parents or teachers might have said, or anyone else in the world. Your identity comes from who Jesus says you are and no one or nowhere else. The temptation is to be swayed by what others think about us. Do not listen to any lies. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are only to be concerned with who Jesus says we are. And Jesus says we are sons and daughters of the most high God and we are people of great worth. Today ask Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” Listen for the answer, especially if you have not considered asking this question of Jesus before. Read through the words of Jesus seeking his words about who we are as followers of his. Today be sure to live in the hope, knowledge, and power of knowing that you are a child of God and a person of great worth. This is your identity! Don’t listen to anything or anyone that tries to tell you differently. Your identity in Christ should humble you and empower you at the same time. Through this identity you will make a difference today. You can live a life of purpose and meaning today as a follower of Christ. Prayer: Holy God, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, in whom my identity is revealed. Empower me today to know that I am a child of yours and a person of great worth. Humble me to know that I am who I am because of you. You created me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray in Jesus name that I will make a difference for you today. Amen.

Scripture: Mark 6:45-46 CEB “After saying good-bye to them, Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray.” The promise of what we would see and experience was truly exciting. It was perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of something global. We were all very excited to be going and be a part of what God was doing in a different place and with different people. Months of preparation and prayer had gone into the whole experience. There were months of anticipation, a little anxiety, and a lot of excitement that were about to culminate in a mission trip to a destination nearly 7,900 miles away. We would be gone for a little over three weeks and I would miss one of my daughter’s birthday to participate in this trip. It was a lot to think of and take in and some sacrifice to be participating in my first mission trip to Kitwe, Zambia. It was truly exciting. All the preparation led to the day we were set to depart. This was both exciting and a day I had been dreading. I was excited for the new opportunity, but I was dreading saying goodbye to my family. Since Debbie and I were married, and since the girls were born, the longest I had been away was 11 days. This trip would be for over three weeks. As we said our goodbyes I was truly saddened that I would not get to see the most important people in my life for such a long period of time. Let’s face it … saying goodbye is never easy. When we love someone we want to be with them. This is what makes saying goodbye so difficult. The thought of being away from my family for so long was daunting, even though it was for a great cause. I was truly counting on God to keep us and bless us through the whole experience. Sometimes we must say goodbye. In this case it was for a mission trip where I would grow and serve. I was saying goodbye to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to serve those in Zambia. It was a good thing. Saying goodbye to grow is a wise step and it is following the example of Christ. The Apostle Mark writes, “After saying goodbye to them, Jesus went up onto the mountain to pray.” Jesus had been doing great things for many people, but it was time to say goodbye so he could grow closer to God in prayer. Jesus gives us the example of saying goodbye to one thing to spend time growing in relationship with God. It should lead us to ask the question, “To what do I need to say goodbye to grow in my relationship with God through prayer?” Perhaps it is time watching television, maybe a little bit of sleep in the morning, or even a little break time at work. It is important to say goodbye to some things so that we will have time to grow in relationship with God. What will you say goodbye to today? Make a plan for the week which identifies those things to which you will say goodbye and replace them with some time spent in prayer. Whatever it is you would have done will not be missed, I guarantee it. Give it a try and watch how God will use that time you give. You will be blessed and you will grow in relationship with Jesus. It doesn’t get any better than that. Prayer: God, thank you for the gift of relationship you offer by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I want to spend more time with you in prayer. Show me today what I need to say goodbye to so I can grow my relationship with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 6:12-13 CEB “During that time, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night long.” Some people grew up going to church camp or retreats. These folks have probably experienced an encounter with God that was formational for them. It seems like the times we spend at camp or on a retreat can become some of the most powerful moments in our faith journey. The first retreat I ever attended was when I made my Walk to Emmaus back in 1989. The Walk to Emmaus is a 72-hour retreat experience where the participants hear talks and are led through many different experiences all designed to demonstrate God’s love for them. The Walk to Emmaus experience was definitely a spiritual high for me and a true spiritual marker in my faith journey. This is the type of experience retreats are designed to create. There is something about taking time to experience a more focused time with God. When we take time to retreat and spend time in prayer we can experience what some have called a mountain top experience. When I hear that term I think of the time Moses spent on top of Mount Horeb receiving the Ten Commandments. We read in Deuteronomy that when Moses came down from the mountain his face was glowing. It was glowing so much that Moses had to cover his face with a veil. When we encounter God in a new or different way on a retreat we may feel a little like Moses. We may come down from that mountain top experience feeling closer to God and maybe even feel like we are glowing with God’s love. Have you ever experienced this? If not, I would encourage you to consider attending a Walk to Emmaus retreat. There is one coming up in March. The reality is, however, we can experience this type of mountain top experience every day. We simply have to make the decision to seek and be aware of God’s presence in the ordinary. Jesus went out to the mountain to pray because it was a place he could concentrate on his prayer to God for an extended period of time. It was one of the ways he practiced solitude in his prayer life. We should do the same. We can also take that practice into our everyday life. If we are willing to seek God’s presence in every part of our day we can be on retreat every day. In order for this to happen we need to be intentional about creating the environments where the Holy Spirit will move. When we open our heart and mind to the possibilities that God has for us, amazing things can happen. Just as Jesus went up the mountain physically we can go to the mountain spiritually by simply turning to Jesus and seeking his presence. So will you head out to the mountain today? Seek God’s presence in every part of your day and pray through every moment of your day. If you will do this you will experience the mountain top today. You don’t have to go on a special retreat to experience the power of prayer. However, I highly recommend going on retreat regularly. The key is taking that mountain top experience back down into the valley with you. The God of the mountain top is also the God of the valley. God’s presence is the same in our highest highs and our lowest lows. I pray that you experience the fullness of all that God has in store for you today, throughout Lent, and always. Prayer: God, thank you for all of the experiences in my life. Help me to appreciate your presence in the valleys of my life as well as on the mountain top. I long to experience your presence in every moment. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to see you everywhere. When I see your presence I will be sure to give you all honor, glory, and praise. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Luke 5:15-16 CEB “News of him spread even more and huge crowds gathered to listen and to be healed from their illnesses. But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.” Did you ever build a fort? As a kid we probably all have built some form of fort. It usually involved blankets draped over furniture to build a temporary fort. If you were fortunate you may have even had a tree fort in your backyard. Where I grew up kids would go down to the woods and dig out underground forts. It was a place you could go where no one else was allowed, unless you allowed them in. I had two places I called forts growing up. One was in my room. I had bunk beds growing up and I would drape blankets over the rails of the upper bunk to make a fort of the lower bunk. The other was in our basement. I had taken a corner of one of the rooms in the basement and would set up a fort down there. Both of my fort locations were designed to get away from everything and everyone. I would read or play or whatever I wanted without anyone else interrupting. I don’t believe that Jesus was in the practice of making forts. However, I do believe that he was in the practice of making space where there would be no interruptions. Rather than play or read, Jesus used this space in his life to pray. It was a part of the rhythm of Jesus’ life. He would be in ministry with a lot of people, with his disciples, with crowds of people, and in many different places. Then, as Luke records, “ … Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.” The ebb and flow of ministry and solitude was essential to Jesus. He would empty himself all day in ministry healing the sick, casting out demons, teaching, and proclaiming the good news. This all served to deplete Jesus of both physical and spiritual energy. This is why Jesus would go to deserted places and pray. It was to fill his spiritual tank again. The time Jesus spent in prayer helped him to get physical rest and to recharge spiritually as he talked with God, the Father. Maybe it’s time we start building forts again! There is something very essential about withdrawing to deserted places for prayer. In my own life I have several places that work for me. At church I withdraw regularly to our prayer room off the sanctuary. It is a place specifically designed to be quiet and prayerful. At times I will withdraw to a place like Starbucks, which I know is never deserted, and find a corner to pray and just lose myself in the atmosphere of community. Sometimes my deserted place is my car as I am traveling to and from work, the hospital, or wherever I am heading. There are many ways we can find our deserted places in this world with very few actual deserted places. Have you ever thought about this? Where are your deserted places? Today the challenge is to take stock of where we pray. Do you have a deserted place or two? If not, plan out where your new deserted place will be. Make time to withdraw to this place at least once a day. Schedule in your time in your deserted place. Perhaps on your calendar you schedule an appointment to withdraw and be in prayer. You will be surprised what a few minutes in your deserted place will do for you physically and spiritually. The busyness and chaos that can come from the alternative is undesirable. It would be an awesome thing if people could say of our daily routine that, “(Insert your name) would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.” May you create time in your deserted places today to spend time in prayer. Prayer: Lord, thank you for all of the amazing people, places, and activities in my life. I know that I can allow all of these to crowd out my time with you. I want to make time for you today in my deserted place. Give me the discipline to plan this time and to listen to your Holy Spirit to know when I need to get away. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture: Isaiah 30:15 CEB “Therefore, the Lord God, the holy one of Israel, says: In return and rest you will be saved; quietness and trust will be your strength— but you refused.” The practice of solitude and rest is a practice that is foreign to most. We live in a society that rewards grit and drive. It seems that the more you do and the harder you work the greater the reward. This attitude and value can even bleed over into the way we look at our off time. It shows up in statements like work hard and play harder or go hard or go home. This outlook creates a cultural phenomenon where people work long hours to try and get ahead and then play hard in their off time and never really spend any time resting. Sure, everybody gets some sleep every day. But sleep isn’t the only part of resting. We are a people who may very well have lost the art of rest and solitude. In the scripture above Israel had been running fast and hard away from God. They were doing what they wanted to do and not what God wanted for them. In fact, they were doing even worse than what they wanted … in most cases they were doing what the culture deemed good. The problem with that is God told them exactly the opposite. When the people of God were given the Promised Land, God told the people of Israel to avoid the cultures they would overtake. The reason being that they were to be set apart as God’s chosen people. In essence, the people disregarded what God had told them and did what they wanted. This caused them to be shut off from God. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells the people of Israel to return and rest in God – instead of their own way. Being quiet in the Lord and trusting God would give them strength, but they refused God’s advice. Today, we must ask ourselves the same question. Have we refused God’s call to return to God and rest in God? Do we spend enough time in quiet and trusting God? My guess for all of us is that we do not spend enough time resting in God. Even the marketplace is rediscovering the importance of rest. There is a company named White Space that is teaching businesses the importance of giving their employees time to regroup, to think, and to rest. What they have found is that this leads to greater productivity, effectiveness, and creativity in the workforce. What is interesting to me is that this is God’s idea. God desires for us to rest. So much so that God set the example in the creation story. God created for six days and on the seventh day God rested. It is so important for us that God modeled it for us. We could even say that on the seventh day God created Sabbath. It is just as important as the other six days. We really need to heed God’s call to return to God and rest. How are you doing? Do you rest in the way that God calls us to? What is your plan for solitude today? Each day we should plan to schedule ample time for solitude where we can rest in God’s presence. If we will do this we will find that we are actually more effective the rest of the day. Our mind will be clearer. We will be more aware of our purpose. We will feel God’s presence with us in the other moments of the day. Isaiah tells people that solitude, rest, trust and quiet will be their strength. If we want to be strong we must make time in our day for solitude and rest in God. What is your plan today? Prayer: Creator God, thank you for your example of rest. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, and his life and ministry and how he demonstrated the importance of solitude and rest in you. Empower us today to find moments of rest and solitude. We long to be in your presence today where we can listen to you in the quiet. Inspire us today to seek you in the quiet places. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.