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We're excited to offer you the online version of our Lenten Devotional published by Asbury's Prayer Ministry Team. This year's theme is based on favorite hymns and songs. These daily devotions are written by Asbury members, and each one is based around a hymn or song.
Each devotion will contain links to lyrics, links to tunes, or video clips to enhance your daily meditation (links are provided in a bold font).
We hope you find that the online devotional helps to enhance your spiritual journey this Lenten season.
Asbury Web Ministry
Read John 20
Was it a morning like this? Every Easter morning, when I see the sun rise, hear the birds chirping and see all the signs of spring budding, I think of the first Easter, “When Mary rose from her bed/To tend the Lord she thought was dead.”
When I see the barren trees turning green with leaf buds or my roses beginning to come out, I can just imagine the “grass singing and the Earth rejoicing” to feel Jesus again. At the Cross, Nature mourned Jesus’ dying with darkness and an earthquake. Now, at His resurrection, I’m sure Nature rejoiced. And we can rejoice with it!
At a sunrise service I attended in Connecticut, they had fashioned an empty tomb. What were Peter and John’s thoughts as they raced for the tomb, John outrunning Peter? Perhaps, they were skeptical and a little fearful at first, but according to John 20:48, after viewing the grave clothes, they saw and believed.
Mary must have had her own doubts and fear mingled with her grief as she stood outside the tomb, crying. What were her thoughts as she looked into the tomb and saw two angels, who asked her why she was crying. “They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him!”
Jesus appeared and Mary, thinking he was the gardener, asked where he had placed Jesus. He only had to say her name, “Mary.” I can only imagine the joy she felt when she saw and recognized her Rabboni!
Was it a morning like this? I’m sure it was!
Dear Lord,
Today we praise You with great joy for the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of new life. Help us to make every morning one of rejoicing because of your great love!
Terrie Daugherty
Read Romans 6:3-18
Not throned afar, remotely high, untouched, unmoved by human pains, but daily, in the midst of life, our Savior in the Godhead reigns. (Verse 3)
There are times when the awesome power of our Creator God overwhelms us and leaves us feeling incredibly insignificant. Those are the days when we feel alone and empty, perhaps wondering if God even notices us.
Lent is a season of reflection, when we review our relationship with God and look to the promises he made. He has promised comfort, answered prayers, healing, protection, light in darkness, a home prepared for us, and an eternity with him to all who believe.
This year especially, I can attest to the faithfulness of our God. As the hymn writer points out in the third verse, God is very near—an ever present help in the time of need, and he reigns. Christ is Alive—his presence can be felt in a hospital room, at the deathbed of a loved one and in the solitude of grief. The victory of Christ over death that first Easter dawn brings assurance to every Christian believer. We are not alone.
We are Easter people. We claim John 3:16 as our motto and we look forward in confidence to an eternity in the presence of our precious Risen Savior. We have been purchased with the blood of God’s very own son, and there stands our worth. Each of us is loved and ransomed as if he were the only one.
May this Easter bring you the assurance of his promise to be with us always.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for being close at hand even as you are over and above the universe. You have created galaxies, yet walk beside each of us. May our Lenten journey bring us even closer to you and your Son who purchased our salvation. In his precious and powerful name, Amen.
Donna Nuss
Lyrics: http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/92/hymns..unknown..christ_is_alive.html
Read Mark 15:16-39
“Watch the lamb.” In Ray Boltz’ song, these are the words a Jewish father tells his two young sons as they enter Jerusalem bringing their sacrifice for the Passover. Boltz’ expressive voice weaves a story of unexpected confusion and noise in the city that day, as well as captures the emotional turmoil of the father as he is separated from his sons and forced to carry a cross for a condemned man. The father is surprised by the condemned’s reactions to the hostile people and events entrapping him: “Never have I seen such love in any other man.” After the sky darkens and the man dies on the cross, the boys are reunited with their father and tearfully confess, “The lamb ran away.” Scooping the boys into his arms, the father turns to face Jesus on the cross and says, “Dear children, watch the Lamb.”
I love this song for its vivid and personal portrayal of events that day as Jesus was led to Calvary. While I realize that Ray Boltz created a fictional family to populate his song, the song still speaks truth and beautifully connects the first Passover lamb of Exodus 12 and the daily animal sacrifices of the Old Testament (as described in Lev. 4) with the one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus. I admire the little boys’ honesty in admitting, “Daddy… there’s so much that we don’t understand.” And I rejoice that my Heavenly Father welcomes me into a relationship because the Perfect Lamb of God satisfied the debt of my sin, and He welcomes my honest questions and my acknowledgements that I don’t understand and I need help.
Thank You, Jesus, for being the Perfect Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Thank You, Almighty God, for hearing, accepting, and helping me when “I don’t understand.”
Cindy Brown
11 women, a room of men. Sitting a dozen feet away, 7 of these men shared their stories – stories of drugs, alcohol, and lives taken. Prisoners, who could be written off by the world, had become people to us: people who had experienced and done terrible things, but people who passionately desired to turn themselves around. Our chairs were in the back of the crowded room, slightly separated from the rest of the congregation. Earlier in the day we had been allowed no physical contact, but now the rules were lifted. Worshipping at Denmar Correctional Center, we were grateful that a simple handshake was now allowed.
There in the mountains of West Virginia, I learned about the grace of God from a group of men who came together knowing they had messed up. Worshipping in prison, there was no hiding their failings. Admitting our fall from grace linked us, broke down walls, and created a visible difference from the church where I grew up.
At the close of the service, the Chaplain offered to pray with anyone who so desired. We sang “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” almost four times that night, as men kept coming forward. The congregation never got restless, and I began to realize that this patient, unconditional love was what set this community apart. In loving like Jesus, they had opened up a unique space, allowing each other to change, grow, and be molded anew by the Potter.
God, as I encounter others today, help me to love them patiently and unconditionally, as You do. As I think of Your ways and Your will, remind me of the baptismal waters that You wash me with daily. Soften my clay heart with those waters, that I may be more easily molded after Thy will.
Amen.
Carissa Moore
Read John 15:1-11
I cannot carry a tune in a bucket! I have been told by many that I have no rhythm. When we clap at church, I always watch the leader to make sure I clap at the right time. So why in heaven’s name would I pick Lord of the Dance as my favorite hymn? It’s simple – God has a sense of humor! He made me the way I am. And even though I’ll never be on America’s Got Talent, to God, I can sing like Bing Crosby and dance like Fred Astaire. (Am I dating myself?)
This simple song fills me with such hope and assures me that Christ is in control and has a plan for my life. “I danced in the morning when the world was begun.” He danced at the creation because he saw the world his father created was good. He came to earth and danced for everyone during his ministry: “I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee.” He danced for all of us, but some chose not to join his dance: “But they would not dance and they would not follow me.” But those who did dance with him will live forever: “They came to me and the dance went on.” Even though he was beaten and whipped and hung on a cross to die, he overcame death and his kingdom will last forever: “I am the life that will never, never die…”
This is a wonderful promise: “I’ll live in you if you live in me…” so, sing and dance wherever you may be – and let Christ be in control of your life!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ into this world. Help me to follow him in all things and in all ways. Help me to dance with him and follow him always. Amen
Karl Kramer
Read Psalm 100
Change is inevitable in this life, and rarely do I accept it gracefully. Through the years I have adapted to change with increasing ease; however, as the saying goes, “I’m not there yet!” This past year challenged me even further in this regard!
January 2009 began with the news that my mom would begin treatment for Lymphoma, with which she had been diagnosed one year earlier. January 2009 also heralded a stage four brain cancer diagnosis for my daughter’s high school basketball coach mid-season. Throughout the year, we walked with my mother through a number of serious complications and watched our beloved Coach fight for her life. Neither change was accepted without resistance!
No one possibly knows more about change and suffering than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our challenges this year pale in comparison to those which He endured for us so many years ago. In fact, it is why the author of the hymn, Be Still My Soul, tells us to be patient in our grief and pain, to let God order and provide. He will remain faithful through all of the change that comes our way.
It is the faithfulness of our God, and the hope of eternal life that He has promised through the sacrifice of His only Son, that sustains and calms our souls through times of change. Through the music and lyrics of this hymn I am refreshed, encouraged and prepared for the next changes that will come. I know I still won’t accept them gracefully, but I will continue on this journey beside our God!
God of faithfulness and sustaining love, walk with us as we face the challenges and changes that this life brings. Let your Son’s life and suffering serve as our example, and His resurrection, our Hope.
Karen Mitton
The first 1:50 of this video is instrumental with beautiful video. If you prefer, you can drag the slide below the video window to 1:50 and then click the play button to start near the beginning of the vocals.
Read John 14:15-31
The church service had just begun and as I whispered something to my friend Lisa, I heard Pastor Mindy ask for those who help serve communion to come front for a blessing. My ears perked up and I said, “That’s me,” and I went up. Only a few of us were standing there which I thought was curious. Then Pastor Mindy began talking about what a wonderful job we were all doing in taking communion to shut-ins. Since we were facing the congregation I’m sure everyone saw the confused look on my face. Shut-ins? I don’t do that. Oh, no! I should not be up here – now what? I did the only thing I could do – I went back to my pew, right in the middle of Pastor Mindy’s speech.
Have you ever had one of those moments? When you thought you were being called to do something but you really weren’t? It is easy to get so caught up in what we are doing that we don’t fully hear what God is saying to us. When we ask “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?” we need to remember that we are asking a question and we need to pray and wait for an answer. Because sometimes, the answer may be “Not this time but thanks for asking.” God has a plan for all of us. He will use us all in ways we can’t even imagine. It is our job to keep asking “Is it I, Lord?” and to wait for His answer.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us opportunities to serve You. Let us never stop asking “Is it I?” Help us to remember to await Your guidance before jumping into things that may not be Your will. Amen.
Beverly Kerch
Read Mark 11:1-11
This hymn praises Christ as the blessed one who came in the name of the Lord. It is the hymn I remember that most celebrates the newness and excitement of spring.
My father was the youth choir director when I was an elementary school age student. “Suffer the little children…” had real Palm Sunday meaning for me. This was one of the first songs that I remember him teaching us.
It was a gloriously happy –shout out loud! – kind of song. The text flowed easily for those of us who were just learning to read, let alone sing. And it was a time when our new robes were being sewn and fitted.
It all came together on that choir’s first Palm Sunday. We sang and marched down the sanctuary’s aisle in our new robes waving palm fronds. Life does not get more memorable.
If you had known the author, you might have pitied her, because as a child she was orphaned, and as an adult she suffered an accident that rendered her a disfigured and lame invalid. But the people around her knew her, not for her handicap, but for her cheerful nature. She was a woman of deep faith who expressed that faith through her poetry. In her song, "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna," she invites us to celebrate again the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem in his Triumphal Entry. Life does not get more memorable!
Prayer:
You did not enter your holy city Jerusalem on the back of a war horse, but humbly and on a donkey. You came in peace. I praise you with song and raise up palms with joy in my heart. You, oh Lord, are blessed and worthy of my praise. You have saved your people. I will sing your praises until your Kingdom comes and is established, and forever after.
Kirk R. Brown
Read Philippians 4:6
One of my favorite songs is U2’s “Walk On”. In 2000, Bono, U2’s lead singer, lost his father, which helped to inspire this song. The death of a loved one can set off every individual’s mortality clock. Many feel hopeless because they can’t do anything about this suffering and loss. Many times Bono has written of his struggles with control and trusting in God. I have felt the same way. I often trick myself into thinking that through my efforts, hard work, and discipline my family will remain “safe” and thrive in this material world.
Bono uses the message of “Walk On” to keep us focused on the only thing that can save us, protect us, and guide us through this life. Jesus died on a cross so that we can receive God’s grace; we are safe, and we have a home that is not of this world. Bono writes, “You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been.
A place that has to be believed to be seen…Home…I can’t say where it is but I know I'm going home.
That's where the heart is.”
“What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it, or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Leave it behind
You got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel
All this you can leave behind”
Prayer: “Lord, please remind me daily that all I need is you. I want to trust in you and leave it all behind. Amen.”
Dan Crowley
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