Art by Bassem Wahbi

Intro Week
Day 1

Ash Wednesday Meditation: “Give Up & Take Up”

Today the Church world-wide reflects on the blending of two symbols, the ashes & the cross, and begins the season of Lent. Many wonder….What really is the purpose of the ashes? Why do we do this on a Wednesday? And what am I supposed to do during Lent?

Ashes are a biblical symbol of lament and grief, and the ashes used on this day have a special history. Each year, when we celebrate Palm Sunday, Christians wave large palm branches and praise Jesus, just as the great crowds did when Jesus entered Jerusalem, saying “Blessed is the king!” (John 12:13). Yet, later that week, the great crowds gathered again and when Pilate asked, “What should we do with ‘the king’?” they shouted “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:13).

How could their words go from adoration to violence in one short week? The sneaky desires of the flesh led them to put power, control, security, and familiarity above following and loving Jesus. Our faith, too, waxes and wanes, just like theirs did. So in Christian tradition, the palm branches used on Palm Sunday are turned into ashes and used the next year on Ash Wednesday. Thus, we lament the ways we had promised to worship God but fell far short. Now is the time to contemplate, confess and turn from our own sin towards Jesus.

Ash Wednesday is 40 days before the beginning of Holy Week. 40 is a special biblical number that symbolizes a journey from struggle to redemption. These 40 days are meant to prepare us to fully embrace God’s rescue plan for us. Many use this time to‘give up’something that distracts them from their relationship with God, as well as ‘take up’a spiritual practice that will make them more aware of God’s presence and God’s ways. This year at LAC we want to encourage all to take up Scripture memorization, and our first passage comes from the words of Jesus, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near,” (Matthew 4:17).

Reflection Question: Take a moment to reflect on this last year. How did your own faith wax and wane?

Prayer: Lord, as we remember Ash Wednesday today, give us courage to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near,” and flood us with your love and grace. Amen.

- Jeanine Smith, Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries

Intro Week
Day 2

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

And so another Lenten season begins… We think of Advent as the season of light; is Lent then the season of darkness?

To begin our Lenten journey this week, we read of a profound kind of darkness in Isaiah 9. The original Hebrew word speaks of the darkest dark possible. There is texture to this darkness; it is layered and gritty. The people in the Galilee region had been overrun by invaders for centuries; it often felt like they were being dragged through one dark moment to the next. And yet, the prophet Isaiah shares a promise from God himself: light will shine in this land which has known so much deep darkness.

Have you been in a cavern so deep that no light can reach it? I have. Once. That was enough! Without artificial light, there is nothing to see; you can’t be sure you’re moving in the correct direction and the darkness presses in on all sides like it is a living being. Darkness becomes a remarkably tangible entity when it is total and complete. I was unsure, unnerved and disturbed.

This prophecy of Isaiah would later be quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4. He would declare that this deep darkness was finally ending, that Isaiah‘s prophecy was being fulfilled in the hearing of those gathered that day in Capernaum. But it had been a long wait, and like me in that cavern, I wonder if the people questioned whether God would ever turn on the promised light.

As we begin our annual Lenten journey, we move into this season of darkness. We take time to reflect upon our own need, our church’s need and our world’s need for light in the form of Jesus. We begin on Ash Wednesday by remembering that we come from dust and return to dust; and there the story ends if not for Jesus, the light of the world.

Reflection Question: In what areas of your life do you need the light of Jesus?

Prayer: Jesus, help us to embrace and move through our own dark moments this season.

Help us recognize them, so that we might entrust them to you. (Selah)

Guide our journey from darkness to light, as we lean into your promise to be our companion in all things and in all moments…Amen.

- Scott White, Interim Lead Ministry Pastor & Associate Pastor of Outreach

Intro Week
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Confession

As our Spiritual Practice this week, we will be spending some time in confession. We will begin with a reading from Psalm 51, allow time for self-reflection and confession, and close with a reading from The Book of Common Prayer.

Silence

Begin with a moment of silence, pausing to be still. Allow yourself to let go of the worries of the day, and prepare your heart to meet with God.

Psalm 51: 1-3, 10-12

Have mercyon me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion, blot outmy transgressions.

Wash awayall my iniquity, and cleanseme from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…

Create in me a pure heart,O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast mefrom your presence or take your Holy Spiritfrom me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,to sustain me.

Personal Confession

Spend some time in confession. Where have you fallen short of God’s call on your life today? When have you been selfish? self-assured? self-reliant? When have you put your own needs above the needs of others? When have you acted out of fear? shame? greed? or pride? Take this time to confess your sin to the LORD.

Reading from the Book of Common Worship:

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry,

Too real to hide,

And too deep to undo.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name,

What our hearts can no longer bear,

And what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment.

Set us free from a past that we cannot change;

Open to us a future in which we can be changed;

And grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image,

Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Amen.

From the PCUSA Book of Common Worship
Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993; p. 88

Intro Week
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 4:17

Each week, we will be taking some time to memorize a verse or two from the Scripture preached in the previous week’s sermon. This week, you will be meditating on and memorizing Matthew 4:17. As you memorize the text today, you invite God’s Word to become a part of you, to settle into your very being and transform you from the inside out. In Medieval times, Christians used the Latin word ruminare to talk about this deeper reading of God’s word. Ruminare (which is the root of “ruminate”) means “to chew food over and over again” and gives us this idea of chewing on God’s Word, ingesting it, turning it over and over in our minds and hearts. In order to be fed by the Word of God, we have to chew on it, spend time with it, and invite it to live inside us in a new way.

Maurice Sendak, the author of the famous children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, recalls this experience about the importance of the written word:

Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. . . . I sent him a card [back] and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim: I loved your card.” Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.

This little boy wanted so badly to become one with a letter from Maurice Sendak that he ate it. Literally. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it. We are invited into this same experience with God’s Word: to see it, to love it, to eat it. We are to meditate on it, to consume and absorb it so that it lives inside us.

You are invited today to “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalms 34:8). Enjoy the feast!

Art by Nader Wahbi

Week 1
Day 1

Read Matthew 9:9-13 and Hosea 6:1-6

Matthew recounts for us the very moment when Jesus changed the direction of his life. He was engaged in his everyday work, the unpopular task of collecting taxes from the people. He might have heard about Jesus, but he associated with, well let’s just say, a different crowd. So, you can imagine his jaw dropping as the Rabbi extended the great honor of discipleship by calling out, “Follow me.” Jesus actively modeled the character of God by looking at the condition of hearts, not the outward appearance of his future disciples (1 Sam 16:7).

Continuing the shock, Jesus joined a dinner party with Matthew and his different friends! So when the Pharisees, who set the religious standards, came to question such behavior, Matthew was no doubt questioning whether Jesus might back down or disassociate from them. Jesus’ verbatim quoting of Hosea 6:6 must have flooded Matthew with relief and joy! Jesus exposed the legalism of the Pharisees and reinforced the heartbeat of discipleship: relationship with God.

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Hosea’s theme of covenant relationship and compassion has been used to shape much New Testament theology. In Hosea 6:1, the people, suffering the consequences of their own sin, feebly reach out to God. Described in verse four, their “…love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.”

The same word for “love” in verse four is translated as “mercy” in verse six. This Hebrew word, hesed, is without equal in English- it means loving kindness, a faithful goodness. It illuminates the spiritual truth that God’s desire for us goes beyond religious ritual (the sacrifices) and is about our heart transformation!

Reflection Questions:

• How has your love for God become like a dew that has evaporated? Practically, are you going through the motions of faith? In what ways are you like the Pharisees with judgmental attitudes about people?
• How, like Matthew, have you experienced the unexpected faithful goodness and love of God?

Prayer: Oh God, forgive us for our quickly evaporating love and our quick-to-judge mentalities. Thank you for hesed love, love that always comes to us, always appears! Forgive us, revive us, restore us with your presence that we might share your love with the world!

- Beth Paz, Director of College and Young Adults

Week 1
Day 2

Read Matthew 4:18-22

What is something that comes so naturally it’s as easy as breathing? For me, it’s dancing. When I was in high school, ballet class was an every-day rhythm I knew and loved; it was something that brought me deep joy and helped me escape from a chaotic home life. So you can imagine when I was invited to church for the first time and heard that I should put God before anything else – I laughed. Why would I put something I knew so well before Jesus? What would happen if I just gave that up?

In Matthew 4, we see four men do just that. This passage is familiar, so it’s pretty easy to gloss over it. Matthew tells us that Simon Peter, Andrew, Zebedee and John immediately dropped their nets and left their boats to follow Jesus. Yet, let’s not miss what they’re leaving.

I imagine for these four disciples being fishermen meant more than just the act of fishing. They knew how to brave the storms on their boats, and to repair a net when needed. They were providers, mentors, and friends. This craft was good for them and their families. So when Jesus shows up on the scene and invites them to follow Him, it’s more than just a career change. He is asking for them to drop everything they know: their identity, their security, and their community.

He invites them to leave it all behind and to become fishers of men. The invitation is personal, and includes a promise of transforming what they know and love into something better. And that better involves being a disciple who makes disciples. He purposefully asks us also to participate in expanding His kingdom by forwarding this VIP invite to everyone we come across in our life. How do we do this? By dropping what we know, every day, to say yes to following Him. That was the first step these four disciples took, and it’s ours too.

Reflection Question: What is something you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, Help me see what it is I am holding closer to my heart than you. Remind me of the freedom and promises you have for my life, and who else needs to know you. Amen.

- Julia Gamba, High School Ministries Coordinator

Week 1
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Prayer of Examen

This week we have discovered more of what it means to follow Jesus: Disciples of Christ admit they are in need of a loving Savior (Matthew 9:12-13), Disciples of Christ leave everything to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22), and Disciples of Christ live a life of mercy and submission (Hosea 6:1-6). Today we will engage with a Spiritual Practice called the Prayer of Examen, with an emphasis on submission to Christ. This practice is an old spiritual discipline attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), who encouraged fellow believers to engage in the practice in order to develop a deeper sense of God’s presence and to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit.

In this practice, we review our day, observing and noticing where God was at work. The idea is that we are “rummaging for God,” as if we were searching through an old drawer, knowing that the thing we are looking for is there. We rummage through our day, looking for the presence of God, because we know that He has been with us. We reflect on the moments when we saw Him, joined Him, pleased Him, loved Him — and finally, when we missed Him entirely. Usually the Prayer of Examen is performed at the end of the day, reviewing the last 12 hours. But if you choose to do this practice in the morning, simply review the day before.

Begin with a moment of silence.

Pause to be still. Breathe slowly, in and out. Become aware of God’s presence with you in this moment.

Reflect:

• When I review my day, for what moment am I most grateful? When was I most present?
• What was the most life-giving moment to happen today?
• When did I follow the Risen LORD today, admitting my brokenness and submitting myself to God?
• When I review my day, when did I feel ungrateful, hurried, or distracted?
• What about today was most life-draining for me?
• When did I miss a chance to follow the Risen LORD today? When did I withdraw from the LORD, choosing to put myself first? When did I resist the Spirit’s leading and go my own way?

Respond in Prayer:

Close by inviting God to show you tomorrow where He is moving and active, at work in your life. Pray for courage and obedience, that you might follow Him in each moment.

Week 1
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 9:9

An Interview with Denny and Carolyn Repko

As we prepare to memorize the Scriptures again this week from Matthew 9:9, we are excited to introduce you to Denny and Carolyn Repko. They are long-time members of Lake, now retired after spending many years serving with the Navigators all over the world. The Navigators is a ministry that helps people grow in their faith through life-on-life discipleship, with a strong emphasis on Scripture memorization.

Knowing we have such treasures in this Lake Ave family, we asked them to share about the role that Scripture memorization has played in their lives. Denny responded with joy in his eyes: “Memorizing the Scripture locks it into your heart, you know.” Scripture memory has not just been a discipline for them—though it is that too; they have memorized 3 Scriptures a week for most of their adult lives—but instead a way of life. Whether they are reviewing the Scriptures as they go to sleep or encouraging a fellow believer, they allow God’s Word to sink deep into their hearts.

Even during our short call, they quoted several Bible verses. Carolyn spoke of the power of God’s Word in her life: “I think sometimes that knowing the Scriptures can keep us from sin. I remember a time when I was heading for a besetting sin and 1 Corinthians 13:10 popped into my mind; it stopped me right in my tracks.” She continued, saying that even though they’re not committing new verses to memory as much in this season of their lives, they have a stash of Scriptures from which to draw from. “It truly is a wonderful treasure, really.”

This discipline of memorizing the Scriptures has been a source of community for them as well. Denny recalls meeting with a group of men to study God’s Word together: “We had a whole association of guys. As iron sharpened iron, so we sharpened each other.” They’d memorize the text with each other and hold one another accountable to practice.

Clearly the Repkos have been indelibly shaped by this discipline. When I asked them why they’ve devoted so much of their lives to knowing the Scripture, Denny said, “It is God’s Word, and it is the only thing that is eternal here on earth.” Amen to that.

We hope and pray that the Scriptures are “locked in to your heart” this week as you memorize God’s Word!

Art byGillian Ware

Week 2
Day 1

Read Matthew 18:21-35

As I survey, live in and interact in our current antagonistic, angry, fear driven and reactive society, I believe in our Lord’s profound words (Matt.18:22) to Peter, that he must be willing to forgive seventy - times seven. For me this passage is seared into my soul as I think about our Lord, taking our sins upon Himself while nailed to the cross at Calvary.

In 2000, I recall watching the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, as Jesus hung on the cross for 45 minutes in front of us before His body was taken to the tomb. As we look at the high level of conflict in our churches and society today, we need to remember that forgiveness and reconciliation are based upon Jesus’ work on the cross. It also is a very deliberate action we, as followers of Jesus, must be willing to take.

So why do we resist forgiving others?

• We think we are condoning the other person’s action.
• We are too hurt and want to punish the other.
• We minimize the hurt and spiritualize away the personal pain.
• Forgiveness is hard and requires us to look inward at our own sins, perhaps making us face how we contributed to the problem as well.

This is all understandable, but here’s the truth: Jesus knows the way of life eternal, and clearly invites us to both enjoy His forgiveness and to forgive others. We do this for our own personal freedom—forgiveness doesn’t excuse anyone’s behavior, but it frees us from resentment and bitterness—but also as an act of love.

So, if you want to take Jesus’s words to heart and overcome your natural resistance to forgive, make a choice to follow your Redeemer. Rest in His grace, forgive others and resist contributing to the anger and confusion of these times.

Reflection Question: Lord, is there someone I need to forgive? If yes, what immediate steps would you like me to take?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I reflect upon your love of me, fill me with your compassion, love and grace to forgive (Name) who has hurt me. Lord, “Make me an instrument of your Love” and Your light shining into these difficult places. - Amen

- Bill Mead, Pastor of Marriage and Relational Health Ministries

Week 2
Day 2

Read Matthew 5:9

A peacemaker is someone who facilitates reconciliation. We often think of peacemakers as people in positions of power or those with advanced training, such as law enforcement crisis negotiators or corporate attorneys. The reality is that we’re all called to be peacemakers. Whether we are involved in a secular or a faith-based setting, we have daily opportunities to exercise our peacemaking muscles and hone our skills in bringing reconciliation to conflict.

Sometimes we're helping our children to understand the concept of living in community by learning compromise. Perhaps we're at work and directed to squelch the flames of gossip. Maybe someone's feelings have been wounded by an unfiltered comment or misunderstanding. Yet, when we venture into the peacemaking arena, we have the extraordinary gift of accessing the Holy Spirit's wisdom to bring order to the chaos and confusion.

The act is a pleasure and a blessing when we think about it. We experience the gift of loving our brothers and sisters, colleagues, and friends in ways modeled by Jesus. Bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) in significant ways promotes understanding, compassion, and, yes, peace.

And the excellent news is that in doing so, we step into our role in God's family. We take full advantage of our rights as His children and honor Him by being available for the task. That's a unique brand of encouragement that can only come from above.

Reflection Question:

When have you been a peacemaker in the past? How and where might God be inviting you to make peace in your world this week?

Prayer:

Spirit of God, I come before You in a posture of humility. There are times when I’ve abandoned my rights as Your child to bring peace to a potentially volatile situation. Help me always remember that your grace and mercy allow me to answer the call of peacemaker when you present the opportunities. Give me words and discernment to facilitate the best possible outcome for all concerned. Amen.

- Lucinda Guarino, Coordinator for Counseling Ministries

Week 2
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Conflict Resolution

This week our Scriptures urged us to be peacemakers, seeking restoration with our brothers and sisters in Christ through forgiveness and grace. But this is easier said than done. We often need tools to help us wade through the turbulent waters of our own emotions, not to mention to communicate with another person. Peter Scazzero is a pastor and author who has thought deeply about conflict and growth in the church. His book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, has transformed a vast number of us here at Lake and around the world. He has given us an amazing tool called The Ladder of Integrity that can help us in times of strife.

When we are involved in conflict, it is often difficult to ascertain where our deepest beliefs and values fit in the situation. We become flooded with emotion and simply react in anger, fear, and other negative responses. Instead, we need to sink deeply into our inner life, creating a link between our actions and our values. This is where the Ladder of Integrity is so helpful.

This week, we encourage you to take some time to use this tool. Here’s how you start: First, think of a conflict, either current or in the past. Next, pause, be still, and breathe. Third, begin answering the questions shown below, starting from the bottom with question one and moving up the Ladder to question twelve. Last, allow the Holy Spirit to convict and illuminate! In the end, this tool can help you gain clarity about what you are feeling, what role you have played in the conflict, and what your hopes are as you move forward. The more we use these self-reflection muscles, the better we will get at loving the people around us with Christ’s love.

The Ladder of Integrity:

12. I hope and look forward to…

11. I think my honest sharing will benefit our relationship by…

10. The most important thing I want you to know is…

9. One thing I could do to improve the situation is…

8. I am willing/not willing to…

7. This issue is important to me because I value…and I violate that value when…

6. What my reaction tells me about me is…

5. My feelings about this are…

4. My need in this issue is…

3. My part in this is…

2. I’m anxious about talking about this because…

1. Right now the issue on my mind is…

Learn more about the Ladder of Integrity by listening to Scazzero’s podcast episode: https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/climb-the-ladder-of-integrity-eh-leader-podcast/

Week 2
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 18:15

This week we enter once again into the practice of Scripture memorization, with Matthew 18:15. But again, let us reflect on why we engage in this practice. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD your God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commands I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Orthodox Jews live out this passage today by wearing, small leather boxes tied to their arms and foreheads which contain scrolls of the Torah (their Scripture) rolled up inside. These devout Jews seek union with God through this physical reminder of His Word. As Christians, we too need reminders of God’s Word as we move through our day. We are easily distracted by the hurry and bustle of the world around us and need reminders to slow down and be still. We don’t engage in the practice of wearing tefillin, but we can wrap ourselves in the Scriptures, meditating and soaking in God's good words to us in the text.

One of the ways we can do that is by memorizing the Scriptures. As you engage in this practice today, allow God’s Word to lay claim to your whole life. As Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us, "impress [these words] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along [or drive along] the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” As you invite these words to live deep inside your heart, we pray you’d be set free to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

Enjoy your practice!

Art by Kat Chu

Week 3
Day 1

Read Exodus 16

Where I live, it snows about once a year. And every year, the same snow photos show up in my camera roll— the same porch and yard, the same car and trees in the background, all under the same snowy blanket. This year, as I grabbed my phone and pulled on boots to take pictures again, I wondered why I was taking more pictures. Isn’t it all the same? But it’s not. The snow is still new every time.

Exodus 16 describes the way the LORD fed his people every morning for forty years. For forty years, the people always had enough, “each as much as he could eat”. What’s more, God knew the days of the week. On the Sabbath, he did not give fresh manna and still fed his people with enough. Regardless of whether he gave or withheld, he fed them personally. He did not set it on a timer and forget it. God was intimately involved in the daily food of his people.

I tend to forget God’s intimate knowledge of my needs and his daily provision. I worry and fret and plan ahead as though every day was the last day he would provide. Yet his gifts are new every morning—every day that I need them. Every day, he invites me to taste His presence.

Perhaps God has provided for you through the pandemic and, in spite of all the changes and uncertainties, he has continued to show his caring. Perhaps it’s a Zoom group, weekly walks with friends, or the fragrance of a cup of tea. Perhaps he has provided for much longer than that—snow, sunlight, unexpected friendships, kindness from a stranger. Every day, He feeds and satisfies us.

Shall we go out and gather his gifts with wonder?

Reflection Question: What is something in your day that reminds you of Jesus’ presence? Is there a recurring grace? Some simple way Jesus says to you, “I am here”?

Prayer: Father, keep my eyes open to your gifts, given new each day. What do you say to me through each one?

- Grace Huang, former LAC missionary

Week 3
Day 2

Read Matthew 6:25-34

“Tell me, what do you see?” my professor asked, as I peered into my microscope. It was my second year in college, and with a major in Microbiology, I regularly encountered living things too small to observe with the naked eye. The number of different species of microorganisms are estimated to be in the trillions, and we only know of less than 1% of them. Every day in the classroom reminded me that life is found abundantly even in spaces that we don’t see.

I’m 28, and I don’t have to explain how life in your 20s is filled with anxious thoughts about careers, finances, relationships, and the must-have quote to go with your Instagram post. Looking outward invites the comparison game. Looking inward invites insecurities. And there are moments when I ask, “Where is God in all this?”

Matthew reminds us that this feeling isn’t new. Jesus doesn’t say here that food and drink and clothing are unimportant. Instead, He reminds us that God is trustworthy. The birds and the lilies of the fields are not left to fend for themselves but are being sustained by their Creator. This passage shows us that the Lord is working even when we don’t see it. And just like with a microscope, where we focus matters. When we fix our eyes on ourselves, we are more likely to miss moments with God: God’s love through a conversation, unseen acts of kindness, a text message from a friend. In the world, there are plenty of situations to worry about. The anxiety we feel is valid. The struggles are real. But as followers of Jesus, we can approach them with a biblical understanding that a loving God created us and continues to sustain us.

Just like when using a microscope, when we focus on God, we allow ourselves the best vantagepoint to see Him at work. And in Him and through Him, we find life abundant. Tell me, what do you see?

Reflection Question: Take a moment to look around you today. Where do you see glimpses of God’s presence and Kingdom?

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see your presence as I move through my day. Redirect my focus when I get distracted, and remind me to look for you. Amen.

- John Roferos, College Ministries Coordinator

Week 3
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Generosity

This week our Scriptures have shaped our understanding of God’s abundant provision. We are invited to believe that His grace is enough, His love is enough, and He is enough. When we believe in God’s abundant provision, we can trust Him with everything we have — our time, our relationships, and even our finances.

This week we want to invite you to live out your trust in God through the spiritual practice of generosity. God asks us to give ourselves away to others, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, and to know that He will provide.

For your practice of generosity this week, we invite you to choose one of these options:

1. Generosity of Thought: Be a generous listener, maintaining a posture of curiosity and understanding as you talk with someone with whom you have conflict. Instead of attributing negative motives to someone else, give that person the benefit of the doubt.
2. Generosity with your Gifts: Find a way this week to use your gifts, talents, or abilities in order to bless someone else.
3. Generosity with your Time: Give your time away this week to someone in need. Serve in Family or Outreach Ministries at the church, help with our Care Ministry, make a meal for a neighbor who is sick, write a note to one of our members confined to home, or find another way to serve!
4. Generosity with your Money: Take some time this week to think and pray through how you can more fully honor God with your money. This could mean giving more to the church or a non-profit organization, committing to giving up your Starbucks coffee (or other splurge) for the next month in order to give that money to God, or even just reflecting on the power that money has in our lives.

We pray this week that God would be taking you from a scarcity mindset into an understanding of God’s abundance and provision.

Enjoy your practice!

Week 3
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 14:17-20a

As we memorize a longer passage from Matthew 14:17-20a today, let’s remember why we do this. In this age of “instant information,” it seems almost irrelevant to bother memorizing anything, let alone Scripture. We can Google literally any microscopic fact and have it pop up on our iPad or computer screen, “in color and in a fun font” no less!Well, I want to propose a RESTORATION of the lost art of Scripture Memorizationone verse at a time!

We’re all aware that the Apostle Paul was a mentor to Timothy and referred to him as “his true son in the faith.”Central to Paul's mentoring of Timothy was his emphasis on knowing the Scripture and being able to apply it in his life and in the lives of others.In a letter to Timothy, Paul says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"(2 Tim. 3:16-17).Paul knew that Timothy would need a solid grasp of God’s Word in his heart and mind in order to be able to grow in his personal walk with Christ; to be able to ward off the enemy’s attempts to distract or discourage him; and to be able to serve and minister to others, who would come to him with questions and life challenges needing to be addressed by the truth of God’s Word.

That was so important then, but what about now? Frankly, our electronic devices are not programmed to provide just the right “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” that we or others might need at any given moment.A friend might ask you, “How can I know God’s will in finding my life partner?” Or, “Why is God allowing this terrible thing to happen to me right now?”Alexa doesn’t know what to say to your friend looking for godly perspective and help. However, if you have an appropriate Scripture tucked away in your heart and mind, you can share it and offer real help and encouragement.

-Roger Bosch, Pastor Emeritus

Art by Bassem Wahbi

Week 4
Day 1

Read Isaiah 61:1-3; 8

Isaiah begins his message with strong words: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me...” (vs. 1).My guess is that whatever is spoken after this demands our deepest attention. God’s Spirit is here in order to bring good news to the oppressed, to provide for those who mourn. I believe we long for this Spirit of God to dwell in and through our lives; we hunger for the Holy Spirit to use us radically. However, many Christians never experience the power and wonder that accompanies the movement of the Spirit; we find it quite elusive in our own journey.

This is because the Spirit of the Lord is not here to fulfill our dreams or serve merely as an agent for our well-meaning pursuits. The Spirit of the Lord falls on us to radically change our environment, to serve people that the world would call secondary or unnecessary. Those who experience the fullness of the Spirit are those who have surrendered much. We follow Jesus, the Anointed One, and God’s Spirit begins to work in our lives. But the anointing of the Spirit is never for us alone. It is also for those who mourn, for those who require mercy, and for our brothers and sisters who are in need of God’s justice.

In verse 3 we read, “They will be called Oaks of Righteousness; the planting of the Lord to display His glory.”The Spirit of the Lord is planting each one of us to be examples of His glory. You and I will symbolize what God can do with those who choose to surrender to His will. Much of His glory comes from our planting, and yet there are so many others that the Holy Spirit wants to display. We reveal God’s Kingdom to this broken world by bringing people with us: the poor, the broken-hearted, the incarcerated, the lost, and the sick. They are fully welcome in this planting, and deeply loved. May they be planted alongside us – brilliantly standing as towers of the Lord’s display.

Reflection Question: What gets in the way of you serving your neighborhood, community, and world? Where might the Holy Spirit be inviting you to serve?

Prayer: Jesus, may I be one who is planted for your display. May I be used to help others be planted.

- Rajeev Nandakumaran, Outreach Ministries Project Manager

Week 4
Day 2

Read Matthew 25:31-46

God’s answer to human need is love.

We see this love in the way Jesus cared for the people who came to see Him.When John the Baptist inquired whether Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus simply pointed to the evidence: the blind receive sight, the lame walk… and the good news is proclaimed to the poor (Matthew 11:5)

This type of love is such a defining characteristic of following Christ that,

inJohn 13:35 (NLT), Jesus said that our "love for one another will prove to the world that [we] are [His] disciples."

In fact, in Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus judges between the righteous and the unrighteous on the basis of whether they show love for the well-being of their brothers and sisters. How we treat one another matters. God cares about how we behave toward those whom society judges as the least. Those who consider and care for the needs of everyone else are judged as righteous, while those who do not consider the needs of those around them get judged as unrighteous (out of alignment with the character of God). And what ought to be convicting for us is the fact that the unrighteous are judged not on what they have already done wrong but on the fact that they failed to do anything at all. Indifference in the face of need is in direct contrast to what Jesus modeled on the earth.When we fail to show the love of God in caring for His people, we fail to advance the Kingdom of God.

With this life we’ve been given, God calls us to love. Let’s not be Christians who attend church, but then expect someone else to do what we have been called to do: care for the poor, feed those who are hungry, give drink to the thirsty, show hospitality to the stranger, clothe those in need, care for the sick, and visit the lonely. When we love, the world will know we are His disciples and He will be glorified.

Reflection Question: How does God feel about the righteous in this passage? What might be some areas in which you have remained indifferent when it comes to caring for the needs of others? Where might the Lord be calling you out of indifference and into righteousness?

Prayer: Pray that the Lord will reveal people in your life and along your path that you may serve or care for more intentionally.

- Amara Ononiwu, Housing & Homelessness Outreach Coordinator

Week 4
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Care for the Vulnerable

This week we have seen the importance of caring for the most vulnerable of society. When asked if He was the Messiah, Jesus pointed to the evidence: the blind receive sight, the lame walk… good news is proclaimed to the poor. When we care for those who have been marginalized, we proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord. This seems to be a central theme in the life of Jesus, so what keeps us from living it out?

There are a million different answers to that question, but one of the obstacles is our culture of hurry. Sometimes we don’t respond to people’s needs because we are just moving too fast; we don’t have the margin. We plan too much into our days, trying to squeeze all we can into each and every moment. Productivity is king, and we just can’t slow down. But as Alan Fadling says, “That kind of unholy hurry may make [us] look busy, but it often keeps [us] from actually being fruitful in the ways Jesus wants [us] to be.” (An Unhurried Leader)

God is inviting us to participate in His Kingdom work through serving the vulnerable in our community— people living in poverty, those who are physically sick or mentally unwell, kids needing a better education, and on and on. But when we rush through life, we miss it. We miss the goodness of these moments and the fruit God wants to grow because we are moving too fast.

This week, you are invited to slow down:

• Take some time to walk slowly, asking God to show you where He is moving. Make yourself available to be used by the Spirit. Create some margin in your life, so you’ll be prepared for the next serving opportunity. Let yourself linger and wander in your neighborhood or your city, looking for the opportunity to love your neighbors.
• Maybe set aside a dollar amount that God could use for His Kingdom work (could be as little or as much as you feel led to give). Perhaps use the money to create a kit for people living in homelessness (water bottle, snack, etc…). Perhaps buy a gift card or a meal. Ask God how He wants you to use this money.
• Pay attention, pray, and act.

We know this is difficult in the age of Covid. But we also believe that our God is creative and is doing a new thing in our world. Our job is to simply pay attention.

Enjoy your practice!

Week 4
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 11:4-5

Today we will memorize Scripture once again, this time from Matthew 11:4-5. In this practice, we are allowing God’s Word to confront and change us. In Shaped by the Word, Robert Mullholland differentiates between an Informational reading of the Scriptures vs. a Formational reading. When we read the Bible for information, we stay distant and aloof. We don’t allow it to shape us and mold us, to humble and transform us. Instead, we seek to rationalize our own way of life and defend the status quo, manipulating the Scriptures to serve our own agenda. We may know our Scriptures, but our knowledge is shallow, powerless, and self-serving. Instead, God calls us to encounter Him in the text through formational reading, in which we:

. . . allow the text to master [us]. In reading the Bible this means we come to the text with an openness to hear, to receive, to be a servant of the Word rather than a master of the text . . . . Instead of the text being an object we control and manipulate according to our own insight and purposes, the text becomes the subject of the reading relationship: we are the object that is shaped by the text. (Robert Mullholland, Shaped by the Word)

As you seek to internalize God’s Word today, may you allow it to master you. May the Word cut and bend and twist and mold you into your truest self, and may you surrender to its beauty and grace.

Art by Lauren Blanco

Week 5
Day 1

Read Matthew 18:1-5

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Children… kiddos… little ones…. toddlers… preschoolers… tweens… teenagers…They all experience life differently than adults. They are utterly reliant on the adults around them (even when they don’t want to be). There is something beautiful and unique about childhood. They have an understanding that they need the adults around them to keep them safe and cared for. Sure, a three-year-old wants to “do myself” often, but if they can’t quite accomplish the task, they know there will be an adult there waiting to help them. I know that there are plenty of experiences where adults aren’t present and safe for children; in those experiences, there is a deep sense of trauma that is created for the child that could potentially change the child’s life. What is so beautiful about this passage to me though, is that this is for all children… God’s children… Which is all of us! Jesus is welcoming us to come to Him and take the lowly position of a child in order to enter his kingdom. He wants us to know that we need Him, and to rest in His presence. And He will NEVER leave or forsake us.

Question: How can I lean into being more like a child as I seek the Kingdom of Heaven?

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that I need you. Help me to rest in your presence and find peace in your grace! Amen.

- Amy Cruse, Director of Early Childhood Ministries

Week 5
Day 2

Read Matthew 16:21-26

In January 2020, I felt like my life was going smoothly. I had just started my job here at Lake Avenue Church as the Middle School Director. My family was happy, and my friends were thriving. Truly, what more could I ask for? Well, as one might have guessed, my simple life became complicated with the arrival of Covid-19 thatMarch.

I am traditionally stubborn and don't like change. That attitude proved to be my downfall in 2020. I didn't want to give up my physical and emotional comfort and have to learn a new way of living, since my current life was so satisfying! I can only imagine Peter's thoughts when he looked at one of his best friends, the man Peter believed to be the Messiah, as this friend predicted a horrible future of torture and execution for Himself. Since Jesus is God, couldn't He change this plan to a more pleasant alternative?

One day in late 2020, I had an epiphany. I realized that when I find myself relying on my pride and my worldly comfort, I lose part of myself. What would it look like if I truly humbled myself at the feet of Christ and asked for wisdom instead?

I am learning to challenge myself daily to allow God to surround me in faithful love instead of trying to change my own reality. As I do this more often, I find my faith growing deeply. Life is still changing and I am still being humbled, but one thing I can tell you with full confidence is that denying my two worldly comforts of emotional and physical security for God's glory is the ultimate comfort.

Reflection Question:

During this week as we focus on humility, how can we humble ourselves to accept the wisdom of God’s plan?

Prayer: God of comfort and humility, I give this time to you. Give me the wisdom to recognize what you are calling me to do in contrast to my worldly desires. Grant me the humility to recognize where I am turning from your light. Give me the strength to pick up my cross, Lord, and follow you throughout this life. Amen.

- Leah Bolton, Middle School Director

Week 5
Day 3

Spiritual Practice: Humility

This week our Scriptures have shaped us in the area of humility. We are called to give ourselves away to others, surrendering our own power for the sake of the gospel. Jesus instructed his people clearly:

• “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. . .” (Matthew 20:26).
• “Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
• “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

But the way of humility is not for the faint of heart. Our culture rewards us for pride and cut-throat upward mobility, subtly luring us with the elusive promises of Riches. Power. Glory. The draw feels overwhelming at times, overriding our greatest intentions. In his renowned classic, In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen asks:

What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” We ask, “Can we sit at your right hand and your left hand in your Kingdom?”

The practice of humility then begins with the practice of love. We choose love. Love over power. The cross over control. This is the way of humility.

This week, allow the Spirit to shape you through one of these spiritual practices of humility:

1. Love and Serve Someone Anonymously. So often we crave praise for our good deeds. But this week, do something generous and kind without anyone knowing. How does it feel?
2. Take a Pride Inventory. Spend some time this week taking an inventory of how you speak about yourself to others. Journal each night, asking yourself where pride showed up in your conversations: Do you exaggerate your integrity or accomplishments to try to make yourself look better? Do you feel the need to correct others in order to show your giftedness in a certain area? Do you spin the truth to paint yourself in a better light? Where did pride show up this week in your conversations?
3. Learn. Take some time to learn from someone who is different from you. This could be someone from a different Christian tradition, a different socio-economic status, a different race or culture, a different political worldview. Put yourself in a position of a learner and seek to understand another person’s perspective.

Enjoy your practice!

Week 5
Day 4

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 20:26-27

When my phone rings, my heart leaps with the hope of hearing a familiar voice. However, this feeling dissipates when I hear a computerized voice telling me about my expiring car warranty. What warranty? A familiar voice is not calling to say, “Hello” and check-in, to speak words of love and encouragement, or to ask for advice. A robo-call is not thepersonalcall I was hoping to get.

Modern technology aside, this idea ofcallingis an ancient activity. In Genesis, humanity’s first instruction from God was a call to steward the creation (Gen 1:26). Abraham and Moses are called to lead God’s people (Gen 12, Ex 3). Isaiah was prophet commissioned by God to speak hard truths in a dark time (Isaiah 6). The disciples are called to follow Jesus into an unknown life (Mark 3). Paul of Damascus receives a blinding call to use his talents for a different purpose than he thought (Acts 9). See the pattern? God doesn’t just call peopleawayfrom things butto things.

Like the biblical figures before us, we recognize the nature of God’s call by becoming familiar with how God has called others. In the Christian tradition, the primary way we understand this call is through the biblical witness - a long, complicated, messy story of how God has interacted with his people over thousands of years. In short, familiarity with God’s Word helps us to recognize the way God is presently calling us – even in our mess.

As the Bible scholar Joel B. Green says, the Bible as the Word of God presents us with “an alternative framework” that “challenges those who would be Christian bycallingfor a creative transformation of the patterns by which we make sense of our lives, and by which we interact with the world.” (Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture).

By immersing ourselves in the stories of God’s call to others, we open ourselves to hear what God is calling us to. May we recognize God’s continuous call and may our lives be transformed by it.

- Rita Barrett, Director of Human Resources

Art byAnonymous LAC member

Week 6
Day 1

This week as we move toward Easter, we have provided a few more devotionals and reflections. We hope this will deepen your experience and center your heart during Holy Week.

Let us begin with a poem by a member of our very own LAC family, Christy Gazanian Cooper:

Read Matthew 26:6-13

“A Prayer for the House of God”

Enter the room with all that you have
Hold the weight of your wealth
in the palms of your hands.
Feel the curve of the jar,
in alabaster white—
and the poverty of your spirit
as you pour liquid light
onto the mane of
Your Maker.

Empty yourself
as you inhale the scent
of hope rising.

Make room for redemption
as your knees hit
the ground.

And Remember —

d

o

n o tm i s st h e

p

o

i

n

t

Reflection Question: Take some time to be still with these words. What is your response?

Week 6
Day 2

Read Matthew 26:31-35

There is nothing more devastating than a betrayal and no bigger villain than a betrayer. Stories of betrayal consume news media feeds, best-seller lists, and streaming services. Feelings of betrayal are so visceral, flooding us with anger and fear. And if we are honest, it’s because betrayal is a theme in our own lives too.

In today's passage we find Jesus on the very night he is betrayed and arrested. In the book of Matthew, Jesus has already told his disciples multiple times that he will be handed over and killed (see Matt 16:21-28; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:1-2). This time Jesus tells his disciples, “You will all fall away,” and to Peter, “you will disown me.” Peter pushes back, saying essentially, “Maybe all these other people will betray you, but never me! I’d rather die than disown you!” And all the other disciples said the same.

But notice this: There’s more to this story than betrayal. Betrayal takes center-stage, but there’s something even deeper going on here. Look closely. There are four words we might miss too if we’re not careful. Jesus says in verse 32, “after I have risen…” Betrayal is real, but resurrection is coming. And as they have before, the disciples completely ignore this piece of information. They don’t seem to hear it.

Before we rush to judge the disciples’ ignorance though, we must ask ourselves if we do the same thing. Betrayal has a way of becoming the center of our attention, such that we can’t see anything else. The ways in which we have been hurt by others often take center-stage, and we completely ignore the resurrection power of Christ that brings healing, forgiveness, and restoration. Sometimes we can’t even extend resurrection grace to ourselves, wallowing instead in our own betrayal, failures, and regrets. Whether it is a villain in our lives or the villain in the mirror, betrayal is not the whole picture and it is not the end of the story. Resurrection is coming.

Reflection Question: Think about a moment of betrayal in your own life. What difference does the resurrection make in that story?

Prayer: As I come face to face with my brokenness and shame this week, Lord, remind me that’s not the end of the story. Help me to see my hurt and betrayal, my sin and fear, through the lens of resurrection light.

- Jeremy Rose, Worship and the Arts Director

Week 6
Day 3

Read Matthew 26:36-46

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus shows us a rare human moment. He says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow…” and I instantly relate. All of my tough days in life where I have felt helpless, disappointed, confused, or betrayed—feelings I had previously thought might separate me from God—suddenly connect me to Jesus. Our survival instincts have us hardwired to avoid suffering, but Jesus goes beyond human survival and shows us what to do in the moments of life you didn’t sign up for. He does this by taking two key steps.

First, Jesus asks. With his Father, Jesus has the audacity to ask for the cup to be taken from him. He is broken, and cries out to be rescued. In the same breath of asking, though, He takes a second step. Jesus accepts God’s will over his own. Note that Jesus does not accept the act of suffering. Instead, he accepts his Father’s plan as a step of obedience. No matter how short or long our seasons of suffering are, we too can speak with our Heavenly Father in this way. We can boldly ask for relief from our suffering and at the same time, trust his plan for our lives as an act of faith.

In the midst of sorrow, Jesus also takes the steps of asking and accepting with his disciples. He shows us that we don’t have to stay isolated when our hearts are troubled. He asks them three times to sit and keep watch with Him, but after repeatedly finding them asleep, He had to accept their physical limits. Jesus models for us how to ask our community for what we need in times of despair, while knowing others in our life are limited and cannot take the place of God. It is through Jesus’ words that I’ve learned to walk through suffering by asking and accepting for the support I need from those closest to me and from God.

Reflection Question: In your suffering, what do you need to ask of God? Of others? What do you need to accept?

Prayer: Spend some time making your request known to God, yet not as you will, but as He wills. Know that His will is to never leave us alone in our sorrow.

-Tiffany Reynoso, Executive Assistant and Director of Organizational Development

Week 6
Day 4

Read Matthew 27:32-37

“The Gift of being transformed from Spectator to Participant”

As a “type 5” on the Enneagram scale, I usually find myself paying attention to little details here and there. One detail I keep noticing is the marginalized figures on the way to Golgotha, specifically the story of Simon from Cyrene (currently a town in Libya, North Africa). This man’s story was mentioned in a few simple words – but what happened to him was significant.

Apparently, Simon wasn’t originally from Jerusalem. Maybe he was an immigrant, maybe he came with his family to celebrate the feast; but he definitely was in the crowd watching the unusual events of that day, along with thousands of others. This reminded me of Moses when he said to himself after seeing the burning bush: “I will go over and see this strange sight…” Exodus 3:3. Similarly, while Simon was standing by and watching like the others, he was called (or ordered) to help Jesus. This was the end of the story in the gospels but was just the beginning of his journey. The tradition believes that he raised two sons who became co-workers with Paul, mentioned later in Romans 16:33.

Simon turned frombeing aspectator to an activeparticipantin God’s plan. I have found myself in Simon’s shoes many times: drawn by the interesting events but mostly as a spectator, until I hear the gentle yet assuring voice of God: “You, come here… I need you in this.” God has an amazing and sometimes strange way of grabbing our attention, and He leaves the rest up to us. Will we listen and obey? God can turn us from simply “watchers” to active members in His plans. The rest is history.

Reflection Question: What are the service opportunities around you that you’ve been watching from a safe distance? Put together a list of those opportunities, and ask God to show you where He wants you to become an active participant.

Prayer:Lord, here I am. Use me. Teach me to hear your voice, even in noisy times and places. Lord grant me the courage to obey. Open my eyes and ears to the needs around me. From now on change me from a spectator to an active member in your Kingdom business. Amen.

- Nader Wahbi, Senior Production Artist

Week 6
Day 5

Spiritual Practice: Prayer

This week we end with prayer, the last spiritual practice in our Lenten Devotional Book. After entering Jerusalem as King, Jesus goes to the Temple and flips over the tables of the money changers, saying “It is written. . . , ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers’” (Matthew 21:13). As disciples of Christ, we are called to turn from our sin and to honor God.

This week we will engage in the practice of prayer using a tool from the 24/7 Prayer Network’s daily devotional resource, Lectio 365. In this practice, we follow a rhythm of prayer following this simple acronym:

P– Pause. Breathe deeply and be still. Ask God to re-center your scattered senses in order to focus upon His presence and love.

R– Rejoice and Reflect. What has been good today? Thank God for it. Read a Psalm of praise such as Psalm 100:1-5, Psalm 95:1-7, or Psalm 103:1-6, 22.

A– Ask God to help you and others.

Y– Yield to the LORD. Welcome His love, His plans, and His presence into your day.

In addition to this practice, we invite you to the many opportunities to engage in prayer throughout Holy Week. You are invited to check out our website for more information on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as we make our way to Easter Sunday. Enjoy your time with the LORD this week, and we’ll see you Sunday!

Week 6
Day 6

Scripture Memorization: Matthew 21:13

Today as we make our way toward the cross, you are invited once again to memorize the Scriptures—this time from Matthew 21:13. As we do so, let us remember what the Psalmist says in Psalm 1:1-2: “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.” We are called to meditate on God’s law, to savor its goodness. The Hebrew word translated here as “meditate” is hagah and is used over and over again in the Scriptures to talk about a full bodied encounter with God through His Word. But this word, hagah, has other meanings as well in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 31:4, the prophet likens God’s protection to a lion who “growls, a young lion over its prey.” The word hagah here means to growl, to hunger, to devour.

Eugene Peterson says in Eat This Book, “Hagah is a word that our Hebrew ancestors used frequently for reading the kind of writing that deals with our souls.” He says that our current understanding of meditation is too simple, flimsy, too tame for what is being asked of us. Our current use of the word “meditation” conjures the images of reading the Bible while sitting quietly in a rose garden. But Isaiah’s lion growled over its prey. Peterson continues: “There is a certain kind of writing that invites this kind of reading, soft purrs and low growls as we taste and savor, anticipate and take in the sweet and spicy, mouth-watering and soul-energizing morsel words…”

Today, as you meditate on and memorize God’s Word, may you truly hagah it—may you find yourself growling, hungering for it, tasting, chewing, swallowing, digesting. May you encounter the living God through His Word today.

Closing

We hope you have felt nourished and fed by your time in God’s Word throughout this Lenten season. As you have taken up new spiritual practices, we pray that the Lord has met you and shaped you in profound ways. But the journey isn’t over! May we continue to attend to God’s presence in our lives and give ourselves over to His will. John Mark Comer says in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,

“…what you give your attention to is the person you become. Put another way: the mind is the portal to the soul, and what you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character. In the end, your life is no more than the sum of what you gave your attention to.”

We have given our attention to God’s Holy Word these last few weeks. We have meditated on it, memorized it, studied it, and lived it. We pray that as you continue to move through this year, you would find yourself becoming more like the Jesus found in the book of Matthew. The Jesus who welcomed little children, who snuck away to lonely places to be alone with His Father, who said if we want to become great we must first become servants, who granted forgiveness to all, who welcomed the outcasts, who gave his life on the cross, and who ultimately rose from the dead. When we give our attention to this story, it transforms us; and through us, the world.

Mary Oliver once said, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” We pray that your attention to the Wonder and Wisdom of God all around you would translate into the Worship of God in your everyday life. Go in peace.