West Texas Missioner

Monday, March 10, 2014

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Monday, March 10

James C. Denison, Ph.D., is a subject matter expert on cultural and contemporary issues. He founded the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, a nonsectarian "think tank" designed to engage contemporary issues with biblical truth in 2009. In the introduction for his 2014 collection of Lenten devotionals, "Resurrection: Finding Your Victory in Christ," Denison writes, "The world's religions are based on what religious teachers said — Christianity is based on what Jesus did. The fact that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead is still changing our world 20 centuries later."

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's 2014 Advent Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

DAY 6
Monday, March 10

... afterward he was seen by James, then by all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7)

A few years ago the American Red Cross was seeking donations to help a group of su ffering people in Africa. A box came with a note which said, "We have been converted, and as a result we want to help. We won't ever need these again. Can you use them for something?" Inside were Ku Klux Klan sheets, which the Red Cross tore into strips and used to bandage the wounds of Africans.

The risen Christ forgives sin and gives peace. What guilt from your past is bothering you today?

What God's word means

James could refer to James the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21) or James the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3). However, it is hard to imagine why the risen Christ would appear to either of them before appearing to all the apostles. James son of Alphaeus is mentioned in the New Testament only when the apostles are listed. James son of Zebedee never speaks in the New Testament and never appears in the Gospels apart from his brother John; he was also the rst apostle to be martyred for Christ (Acts 12:2).

Most likely, James refers to Jesus' half-brother (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). As he is always listed rst among his siblings, he was probably the oldest son of Mary and Joseph.4 He and his brothers did not believe in Jesus' divinity prior to his resurrection (John 7:5). The risen Christ then appeared to his skeptical relative; the second-century Gospel According to the Hebrews says that they shared the Lord's Supper together.

James soon became the most prominent leader in early Christianity (cf. Acts 12:17; 21:18), speaking for the Jerusalem Council when it decided to allow Gentiles into the church (Acts 15:13-21). He met alone with Paul after the latter's conversion (Galatians 1:19) and sent a delegation from Jerusalem to Antioch (Galatians 2:12). Most scholars believe that he also authored the New Testament book of James.

Early tradition calls him "James the Just" and identi es him as mentor to Stephen, the rst martyr. James was so godly that many Jewish leaders later attributed the Roman destruction of Jerusalem to his unjust treatment and martyrdom at their hands.

What Easter means

If James could reject Jesus' divinity despite witnessing his half-brother's sinless character and remarkable miracles, anyone can reject the gospel. However, if such a hardened skeptic could meet the risen Christ and become the greatest leader in early Christian history, anyone can be transformed by the gospel.

Because of Easter, your worst sins are no match for God's omnipotent grace.

How to respond

Guilt is not of God. What about your past burdens you today? Name the failure that is causing you guilt. Admit it to Jesus, speci cally and honestly. Ask him to forgive you, claiming his promise to "forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Know that he has now separated your sin as far from you as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12), burying it in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) and remembering it no more (Isaiah 43:25).

The next time this guilt attacks you, say to it: "I have confessed that sin and been forgiven, and grace is greater than guilt." Keep saying it, every time the guilt comes back: "Grace is greater than guilt." You may have to say it 100 times today and 90 times tomorrow, but eventually the guilt will leave and grace will win.

What the risen Jesus did for James, he is ready to do for you today.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 10, 2014

CIMMARON PRESBYTERY, OHLAHOMA - But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.”
(Jereremiah 1:7 NIV)

Lindsey McCaslin grew up in the 5:32 youth outreach program at First United Presbyterian in Guthrie. They call it 5:32 because Jesus says in Luke 5:32, “I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out” (The Message). In every way, 5:32 is outreach to the “outsiders.”

At age 16, Lindsey McCaslin gave birth to Caitlyn—a life-changing moment for anyone. When you’re 16, hearing the words “You’re going to have a baby” stops you cold. It could mean your life, as you know it, is over.

Lindsey did not let it derail her.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

From @austinseminary ... Devotional for 1st Sunday of Lent

Written by professors, graduates, and others in the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary community, these reflections, prayers, and spiritual practices will take you along the journey with Jesus through the cross toward resurrection.

Day 5
Sunday, March 9, 2014

Lent is a time to reflect on how we live, including how we do not meet God’s expectations. Psalm 32 asks us to think about sin.

Sin can refer to a specific deed that is against God’s intention for us. For instance, stealing a car goes against God’s command “Thou shalt not steal.” Sin also can mean a nagging feeling that we are not in a right relationship with a holy God, even though we do our best to follow the Ten Commandments and Jesus’s command to love one another. Sin can mean our separation from God.

Forty years ago, a book was published called Whatever Became of Sin? The book noted that speaking about sin can make people feel ashamed or guilty, so Christians talk about sin less than they used to. Does God want us to feel bad for breaking God’s law? As St. Augustine noted, while it is possible for Christians to avoid a given sin, experience shows that it is impossible to avoid sinning throughout life. The ancient Hebrews believed that the purpose of the Torah, or God’s law, was to reveal to people God’s vision for living well. When we fall short of what God expects—when we commit sins—God is eager to forgive us, our psalm says. God is our “hiding place” (v.7). God’s love is unfailing (v.10). So, sin and forgiveness belong together.

The author writes about experiencing forgiveness in the second part of the psalm. The author owns up to sin, or confesses it. The psalmist says matter-of-factly that God “forgave the guilt of my sin” (v.5). What happened here? How does the psalmist know that sin is forgiven? The text does not say.

What is clear, though, is that the psalmist is confident of God’s forgiveness. This confidence has two consequences. One is grateful rejoicing in God’s gift of forgiveness (v.11). The second is the author’s eagerness to teach others about God’s law (vv.8–10).

Laws sometimes seem senseless, unreasonably limiting what we can do. Our psalm teaches that God’s rules are for our own good. They teach “the way that you should go” (v.8) to live a good life. Yes, we live in a world of sin. But it is also a world where our holy God moves to forgive our sins.

O God, throughout these forty days of Lent, make us aware of how we fail to live up to your vision for our lives. And make us even more aware of your forgiveness, shown most clearly in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

– The Reverend Dr. Timothy Lincoln
Associate Dean for Seminary Effectiveness
and Director, Stitt Library

For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Sunday, March 9

DAY 5
Sunday, March 9

... then he was seen by over five hundred brothers at one time, of whom the majority remain until now, though some fell asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6)

When I was a senior in college, I faced a great crisis of faith. I would soon graduate, enter seminary, and spend my life in Christian ministry. I found myself asking, "Is my faith based on facts or tradition? Should I spend the rest of my life spreading a message I can't be sure is true? How do I know?"

How would you answer my questions?

What God's word means

The risen Christ spent 40 days with his followers before returning to heaven (Acts 1:3). After he appeared to Peter and the other apostles, he was seen ("he was made manifest") to over ve hundred brothers. This fact shows that Jesus' followers numbered far more than the Twelve or even the 120 later gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15). "Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him" (Matthew 4:25), and 5,000 families later did the same (John 6:10). As a result, we should not be surprised that 500 brothers met the risen Christ three years later.

Our Lord met them at one time, not individually or in small groups, pointing to a singular gathering not otherwise described in the New Testament. Jesus' repeated references to Galilee as the place where he would meet his disciples (Mark 14:28; Matthew 28:7, 10) may have been disseminated among his larger band of followers, most of whom were from this region (cf. Matthew 4:23). Given the dispersion of his disciples after Jesus' arrest (Mark 14:50), it is likely that the Galileans would have retreated from Jewish and Roman authorities in Jerusalem by returning to their homes. Perhaps he met them in Galilee, along with the "eleven disciples" at "the mountain where Jesus had told them to go" (Matthew 28:16).

Of this number, the majority remain, indicating that Paul knew them or of them. Until now refers to the two decades that passed between Easter and the writing of 1 Corinthians. However, some eyewitnesses fell asleep, a typical biblical metaphor for a believer's death (cf. Acts 7:60).

Paul's point is that his readers could still interview these eyewitnesses to the risen Christ if they wished. As signi ficant and foundational gures in the Christian movement, perhaps some were even known to the Corinthian church.

Lee Strobel quotes a psychologist who describes hallucinations as individual events. Strobel comments: "If 500 people have the same hallucination, that's a bigger miracle than the resurrection." Chuck Colson noted: "Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible." Remember that these believers all faced severe persecution for refusing to recant their commitment to their risen Lord. They were part of a group of 500 Christians who continued to claim that they had met the risen Christ, 25 years later. We do not have a single record of a single eyewitness recanting his or her testimony.

If 500 credible witnesses claimed to have seen a meteor streak over their region, and reporters could still interview most of them 20 years later, would skeptics deny that such an event occurred? If they did, would we be more likely to fault the eyewitnesses or the bias of the critics?

Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to 500 eyewitnesses is further proof that Easter is not just a tradition or a holiday, but a fact of history.

How to respond

As a college senior, I began investigating the truth claims of Christianity for myself. I learned that Roman and Jewish historians documented Jesus' life and death, and recorded the fact that early Christians believed him to have been raised from the grave. But I could nd no reasonable explanation for his empty tomb. If the disciples or women stole the body, they then kept their secret and died for a lie. If the authorities stole the body, they would have produced it. If the disciples went to the wrong tomb, the Romans or Joseph of Arimathea (the tomb's owner) would have pointed them to the right one.

If the disciples' encounter with the risen Christ was a hallucination, we must explain how 500 people had the same hallucination. If Jesus didn't really die on the cross, he somehow survived his mummi ed airtight burial shroud, shoved aside the stone, overpowered the battle-hardened Roman guards, made his way through locked doors, and did the greatest high jump in history at the ascension.

I could nd no other explanation for the changed lives of Jesus' followers, or for the changes he had made in mine. So I concluded that Jesus rose from the dead. Therefore, he must be God, his word must be true, and his service must be worth my life. That day, I renewed my commitment to him as my Lord and King.

Would you join me today?

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 9, 2014

MINUTE FOR MISSION: CELEBRATE THE GIFTS OF WOMEN - Women have engaged in ministry since they first walked with Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. Today, women are in leadership roles throughout the church, serving as clergy, executives, Christian educators, elders, deacons, teachers, and in many other roles as we live into the Brief Statement of Faith, acknowledging that the Holy Spirit “calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.”

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

"Product of the Month" at Scarlet Threads

Scarlet Threads is a compassionate boutique, specializing in fairly-traded handmade products. They're working to transform the lives of rural Asian women - and Asian imigrants to the United States - through dignified and safe employment opportunities. You can be a part of their vision by purchasing one of their beautiful products! Find out more about Scarlet Threads at www.scarletthreads.org

Product of the Month

From Scarlet Threads ... "Our Scrappy Pot Holders are our latest offering at Scarlet Threads and they won't last long. Scarlet Scraps products are limited edition and a portion of the proceeds go to our Adoption Grant Fund."

• more information about this product

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Saturday, March 8

DAY 4
Saturday, March 8

... and that he was buried, and that he has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve (1 Corinthians 15:4-5)

Psychologists list over 700 phobias in our society today. Everything from “arachibutyrophobia,” the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth, to “phobophobia,” the fear of fear. What do you fear today? What causes you anxiety and worry? Why do you need peace?

What God's word means

Jesus was buried ("entombed, placed horizontally in a tomb"). The word does not describe burial in the ground but in an above-ground tomb. Next, he has been raised (literally "was raised and is now raised permanently"). Note the passive—Jesus did not raise himself, but was raised by the Spirit (Romans 1:4) through the power of the Father (Galatians 1:1).

This miracle occurred on the third day. As the Jews counted time, any part of a day constituted a whole day. Easter ful filled our Lord's prediction: "Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and su er many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Matthew 16:21; cf. 17:23; Luke 9:22).

Easter occurred according to the Scriptures. Jesus' resurrection fulfi lled Psalm 16:10, "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." Isaiah 53 predicted that "when his soul makes an o ffering for guilt, he shall see his o spring; he shall prolong his days" (v. 10). Paul may also have had Hosea 6:2 in mind: "on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." Afterward he was seen ("was made manifest as real"), proving that Jesus was raised as a physical body. When the risen Christ met some of his disciples, "they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him" (Matthew 28:9). He later broke bread at Emmaus (Luke 24:30), showed his disciples his hands and feet (v. 40), ate broiled sh (v. 41-43), and made breakfast for his disciples (John 21:9-13).

Our Lord made 10 post-resurrection appearances, of which Paul listed ve in chronological order. He was seen by Cephas (the Aramaic name for Peter; Paul never calls him "Simon"), a fact attested by the other apostles: "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (Luke 24:34; cf. Mark 16:7). Even though Peter had denied him three times, Jesus would not deny his failed apostle.

Then (the Greek indicates sequence) by the rest of the twelve (the title refers to the original apostles, excluding Judas). The risen Christ appeared to them on Easter Sunday (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23); the next Sunday with Thomas present (John 20:24-29); and still later beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-13), which constituted "the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead" (v. 14). Paul omitted Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to women, most likely because females were not considered reliable witnesses in the Corinthian culture.

Why Easter matters

Chinese theologian Watchman Nee observed, "Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection." Because of Easter, your eternal life is guaranteed. In addition, no matter what challenges you face today, the risen Christ is "with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Your fears are no match for his transforming omnipotence.

How to respond

Thomas Merton: "It is of the very essence of Christianity to face su ffering and death not because they are good, not because they have meaning, but because the resurrection of Jesus has robbed them of their meaning." The worst that can happen to you will lead to the best that can happen to you. Fear knocked; faith answered; there was no one there. What fears are standing at your door today?

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

PRESBYTERY OF ARKANSAS - It’s Monday. And although for some the first day of the workweek is their least favorite, for the students of the United Campus Ministry (UCM) at the University of Arkansas (U of A), Monday is a day to look forward to.

UCM is an ecumenical initiative of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in partnership with the Disciples of Christ Church in Fayetteville. Presbyterian student ministry at the U of A dates back to the early 1900s, and in the 1960s a new ministry building was constructed across from campus. UCM strives to be a place where students can be who they are and grow into who they want to be, and UCM has seen unprecedented growth the last few years, which brings us back to Monday.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, March 7, 2014

In the News ... "Ukraine missionaries safe back home"

• First Baptist team returns from trip amid turmoil in Kiev

By Lyndsay Weaver, Reporter
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Just days ago, the eight members of a missionary team from First Baptist Church of Odessa were living in a church in the midst of a violent revolution in Kiev, Ukraine, but today they’re all home, safe and recovering from the 22-hour flight.

Around 10 p.m. Sunday night, they were greeted by family and friends at Midland International Airport.

“It was heart-warming, and a little overwhelming to see the response from friends and family there to greet us,” First Baptist Missions Pastor Jesse Gore said on Monday morning.

The team of eight joined 12 other Americans in Kiev nearly three weeks ago to teach conversational English through an international Christian ministry program. For Gore, it was his 10th time to the Ukraine.

This trip would prove to be most impassioned ...

• read the rest of this story

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Friday, March 7

DAY 3
Friday, March 7

For I delivered to you as of rst importance that which I also received, that Christ died on behalf of our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3)

On Monday before Easter Sunday in 1997, our ministry staff at my church in Atlanta began a spiritual retreat. Late that afternoon I took a walk down to the Chattahoochee River, then hiked to the waterfall on the retreat property. It was a brilliant spring day, with not a cloud in the sky. I sat on a wooden deck overlooking the waterfall as it splashed into a creek that wandered down to the river, and God spoke to me.

He showed me that my faith had become a religion, not a relationship. That I was working for him, not walking with him. I couldn't remember the last time I prayed, not to complete a prayer list or ask for his help, but because I simply wanted to be with God. I couldn't remember the last time I read the Scriptures, not to prepare a Bible study or complete a morning "quiet time," but simply because I wanted to hear from him. I couldn't remember the last time I took an hour to listen to God, or the last time I told him with all my heart that I loved him.

Easter was real for me, but the living Christ was not relevant. During those two days, I learned how to fall back in love with Jesus again. I discovered the transforming di fference between a religion about Jesus and a passionate relationship with him.

Which would he say you have with him today?

What God's word means

Paul delivered ("handed over") to the Corinthians as of rst importance ("as of the highest signi fiance") that message which he also received ("had been given by others"). Delivered and received were technical words in Paul's culture for the reception and distribution of religious instruction. Note that this message was not given to Paul by men, but directly by Jesus: "the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). Assuming this "revelation" came at his Damascus road conversion (Acts 9), Paul received this message 20 years before transmitting it to the Corinthians. As such, it is likely the earliest "creed" in Christian history.

Here is the essential message of the Christian faith. First, Christ died as a fact of history. Second, he died on behalf of ("for, in place of, as a result of") our sins ("guilt, sinfulness"). This fact proves his sinlessness (Hebrews 4:15), as Chrysostom (died A.D. 407) noted: "How could Christ die for sinners if he were a sinner himself?"3 Jesus' death freed us from past sins as well as bondage to sin. Third, he did so according to the Scriptures. His atoning sacri ce ful lled Isaiah 53:5: "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Why Easter matters

As Nazi soldiers were lining up Jewish women for the gas chambers, one distraught mother refused to part with her baby. A simple woman known to the prisoners as Mother Maria saw that the guard wasn't watching. So she pushed the mother aside and took her place in line.

At Calvary, Jesus did the same for you. He paid the penalty for your sins by dying in your place. If he had refused the cross, his Father could not forgive your sins. They would bar you from God's perfect heaven, consigning you to eternity in hell. But on Good Friday, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV).

How to respond

On March 15, 1985, World War II veteran Wayne Alderson appeared on The Today Show. Asked about his most signi cant memory of the war, Alderson told about a redheaded friend who saved his life. A German soldier threw a grenade at Alderson, which exploded and sent him facedown and wounded into the mud. Nearby, a German machine gun began firing in his direction. Alderson knew that if the grenade wound did not kill him, the machine gun would.

But his friend turned him over so he could breathe and threw his own body over him. He died protecting him from certain death. With tears welling up in his eyes, Alderson said, "I can never forget the person who sacri ficed his life to save me. I owe everything to him. I can never forget . . . I owe everything."

What do you owe the One who died for you?

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

MINUTE FOR MISSION: THE OUTREACH FOUNDATION - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

The heart of Home of Hope’s ministry is to meet the needs of women, men, and especially children living in dire poverty. A few years ago, the Outreach Foundation, in partnership with several Presbyterian congregations in the United States, provided a ministry home in Zimbabwe for Joan Trevelyan, known as the “tea and bread lady.”.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Faces of Children: Prayer Concerns for This Week

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Prayer Concerns for the Week of 03/06/14

Burundi

• Pray for the children and people of Burundi who’ve been affected by torrential rains and landslides in their country last month. Pray for the 12,000 people who have been displaced by flooding in the northern part of Burundi, outside of the capital city.
• more on this request
• Please pray for the loved ones of the 77 people—37 of whom were children—killed in floods or landslides there. Pray God’s comforting presence will bring them peace.
• Keep in prayer those whose homes were destroyed in this disaster. Pray they will find adequate housing and be able to rebuild soon. An estimated 1,000 houses were destroyed in this disaster.

China

• Please pray for 10-month-old Reese who was born with a severe gastrointestinal defect and abandoned at 6 months of age. Give thanks to God he was transferred into the care of New Day Foster Home last December. And thanks be to God for the success of Reese’s recent liver transplant surgery. Please pray he will be able get off the ventilator and leave ICU soon. Pray the lung infection Reese has will clear up and that he will experience complete healing.
• Pray for 1-year-old Robert who was born with a neurological disorder and abandoned at 3 months of age. Thanks be to God that Robert was recently placed in the care of New Day Foster Home. Please pray Robert’s lungs will clear up soon so he may have the hydrocephalus surgery he needs. Robert has been waiting in the hospital for this surgery, but pneumonia is preventing that from happening.
• more on this request

Malaysia/United States

• Give thanks to God for answering prayers concerning 10-year-old Jehu and his parents. Jehu, who has been living in Malaysia with his aunt, will soon be reunited with his mother and father in the United States. His parents, members of a Burmese ethnic hill tribe, received refugee status in the United States before their son did and haven’t seen him in person since he was 3 years old.
• Please pray for Jehu’s safe travels and his adjustment to living in the U.S. Pray God will smooth the path for this reunion and comfort Jehu as he makes these major changes in his young life. Pray for his parents, Naomi and Pa, who are very excited to see Jehu, but are also feeling anxiety about their reunion.

United States

• Give God thanks for the recent arrest of 22 men, including three employees of Disney World, who sought children online for sex. Thanks be to God for the work of Florida law enforcement officers who coordinated the sting operation and arrested these potential predators.
• more on this request
• Pray for all law enforcement personnel working to stop the sexual exploitation of children. Pray God will protect their hearts and minds from the horrific acts they must witness in this difficult work.
• Please pray for those who prey on young children. Pray for God’s healing touch to be upon those who would use vulnerable children to gratify their carnal desires.
• And most of all, please keep in prayer children who are preyed upon by those who would abuse them. Pray God will bring healing to those who are traumatized and hurting. Pray God will protect those who are vulnerable to this abuse

Faces of Children

• Please keep Faces of Children prayer partner Donna Preston and her family in prayer as they mourn the recent death of Donna’s mother-in-law. Give thanks to God for the life of this beloved family member and pray God will bring comfort to her loved ones in their season of loss.
• Thanks be to God for the new prayer partners who joined with Faces of Children following recent presentations at the University of the Ozarks and at First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, Arkansas.
• Give thanks to God for the opportunity to share the ministry of Faces of Children with the women of Northwoods Presbyterian Church and The Woodlands Presbyterian Church at their spring retreat in Navasota, Texas last weekend. Thanks be to God for the new intercessors who joined with Faces of Children following this retreat.
• Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk.

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to Chris Laufer, FOC Coordinator, at claufer@facesofchildren.net

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Thursday, March 6

DAY 2
Thursday, March 6

... through which you are saved, if you hold rmly to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain (1 Corinthians 15:2)

While I was writing this Lenten guide, our rst grandchild was born. Watching my son hold his daughter was a moment I'll never forget. She will always be his child, even as he will always be mine. My sons have been my children from the moment of their conception. No matter what they do or how they feel about me, they cannot undo their birth. Once we are born to our parents, we cannot be "unborn." We will belong to them forever.

It is the same with our heavenly Father. Once we are "born again" as his children (John 3:3), we cannot be "unborn." If you have made the risen Christ your Lord, he has forgiven your sins and given you eternal life. His Father is now your Father, forever.

The best advice I've ever received what this simple maxim: "Always remember the source of your personal worth." Do you nd worth today in your possessions, popularity, or performance? Or in God's eternal love for you?

What God's word means

Paul's readers are saved ("are continually being rescued, kept from harm") by the grace which the gospel proclaims. However, they must hold rmly ("claim, continue to hold") to this word I preached to you. Otherwise, they believed in vain ("without due consideration").

The apostle did not mean that faith earns our salvation. Rather, our faith positions us to receive what grace alone can give: "by grace you have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). Nor did he mean that true Christians can lose their salvation. If we do not continue to hold rmly to our faith, such a lapse indicates that our commitment was never genuine. Like the "foolish man" who heard God's word but did not respond to it by faith, our house will fall when tested by the storms of life (Matthew 7:26-27; cf. 1 John 2:19).

Why Easter matters

I became a Christian in 1973. Across more than four decades, I have asked many hard questions about Christianity: how can a good God allow evil and su ering? What happens to those who never hear the gospel? How do science and Scripture relate? But I have continued to believe that God is real and that I am his child.

It is not that I have held onto Jesus. Rather, the risen Christ has held onto me: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28-29). If Jesus had not risen from the dead, I would be following a dead man rather than trusting a living Lord. My relationship with him would be based entirely on my performance rather than his power. Because he rose from the dead, he is able to intercede for me (Romans 8:34) and empower me with his presence today (Matthew 28:20).

How to respond

Can you remember a time when you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Lord? If so, claim the fact that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). If not, ask Jesus to forgive you and make you God's child.

Because of Easter, the risen Christ can hear our prayers and give us eternal life. His love for you provides a personal worth that nothing in this world can match. Ten thousand millennia after the mountains have vanished and the stars have vaporized, your life in heaven will have only begun. The saints of the ages and the angels of all eternity are already praising him. Have you joined them today?

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 6, 2014

SYNOD OF THE SUN - W here does a tennis court become sacred space each evening as college students stare up at the big Texas night sky and reflect on their faith while another student leads Vespers? Each May, students from across the synod gather for College Connection at Mo-Ranch. Participants arrive to find five days of faith renewal awaiting them after the spring semester. For some students, attending a Mo-Ranch summer conference has been part of their lives since childhood. Others are being introduced to this amazing corner of God’s creation in the beautiful Texas hill country for the first time.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Experience Ash Wednesday at 1st Presbyterian, 1st Baptist, TODAY

A pair of Midland congregations will join together once again this year, to mark Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the Lenten season that will bring us to Easter Sunday,

From 12:00-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, there will be a brief penitential service of scripture, prayer and the imposition of ashes in the Chapel of First Presbyterian Church-Midland, at the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, on the west side of downtown Midland.

From 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesay, there will be a full service in the Worship Center of First Baptist Church-Midland, at the corner of Garfield Street and Louisiana Avenue, just a few blocks north of Midland Memorial Hospital.

As an added consideration for those with young children, who wish to attend the service at First Baptist, the nursery at First Presbyterian will open at 5:30 for ages 0-3 years old. Dinner for children (nursery, children, junior high youth) will be at 5:30 pm in First Presbyterian’s Lynn Hall. They will be providing a meal of chicken strips, fried cheese sticks, fruit, tater tots, and cookies. If you prefer something different or if your child is too young for these foods, please send something appropriate.

From @austinseminary ... Devotional for Ash Wednesday, Start of Lent

Day 1
Wednesday, March 5, 2014

• Isaiah 58:1–12

"How I wished there existed someone to whom I could say that I was sorry.” Uttered by a character named Fowler in Graham Greene’s novel The Quiet American, these words reflect remorse over the life he has lived; one marked by self-absorbed attitudes and behaviors and by uncaring treatment of others. He recognizes his errors. He admits his remorse and the need to express regrets. In theological terms, Fowler wants to confess his sins and to be absolved of his consuming guilt. These actions and desires demonstrate a basic human need for contrition and pardon.

Isaiah speaks of similar living on the part of Israel, whose people have acted according to self-interest more than God-interest. They have focused on their own desires and overlooked God’s desires for them. Disobedient, sinful, and self-righteous, they stand in need of contrition and pardon. Like Fowler, and perhaps like us, too, though the Israelites recognize their condition and need, they respond in ways that continue to miss the mark and perpetuate selfabsorbed living. This brief passage tells the story (Isaiah 58:1–12). The people ask of God “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”—to which the prophet replies, “Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers” (v.3). The prophet continues, calling the Israelites out for their quarreling among themselves and their practice of rituals empty of what God truly desires. Then, what God truly desires is named: “Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” What God desires of them, the prophet declares, is to share food with the hungry, bring the homeless poor into their homes, to provide clothing to the naked, and to welcome others as their own kin. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly” (vv.6–8). True contrition and repentance lead to serving and providing for those in need.

The season of Lent may sharpen both our awareness and practices of saying we are sorry. Lent prompts reflection on our lives and repentance for our sins. A focus on prayer, preparation, and renewal serves as a precursor to the holiest of times, when we open our hearts anew, refresh our commitments to God, and confront our sinfulness before our Creator. But how we repent matters. Isaiah teaches us this. God asks for repentance to issue not in a singular focus on ourselves but on others, too. God asks for repentance that leads us toward attending to others and their needs, offering them hospitality, sustenance, and care. True repentance requires bearing witness to God’s love as we demonstrate our own love.

The Lenten season also calls us to recognize that a sorrow that leads to true repentance fosters our becoming who we really are. This productive sorrow may in fact buoy us amid our sinfulness as it empowers us to become the human beings God created us to be (free, whole, holy, and forgiven), not merely as individuals or for ourselves, but as the collective people of God who live in service to one another—who “bear one another’s burdens” and fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

Ash Wednesday reminds us that apart from the grace of God, we are, like Fowler, powerless in the face of human sin. Lent invites us to say we are sorry by renewing our baptism, deepening faith convictions, and living more intentionally into our status as Easter people. As we embark on these forty days, may we embrace the call of Jesus himself, who said: “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).

The Lord will guide us continually, and satisfy our needs in parched places. Amen.

– The Reverend Dr. Allan Hugh Cole Jr.
Academic Dean and Professor in The Nancy
Taylor Williamson Chair of Pastoral Care

From @JimDenison ... Lenten Devotional for Wednesday, March 5

DAY 1
Wednesday, March 5

Now I want to remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and on which you have taken your stand (1 Corinthians 15:1)

On average, they stand 13 feet high and weigh 14 tons. The largest of them weighs as much as 165 tons. There are 887 of them on the island. And no one is sure why.

In 1722 a Dutch explorer discovered their island. It happened to be Easter Sunday, so he named his discovery Easter Island. Here the explorer found the famous "moai" of Easter Island, giant statues which guard the beach and dot the island. You've undoubtedly seen them in pictures—huge stone gures, mostly faces, standing mute and stoic for centuries. We're not sure how the people of Easter Island made them, or how they moved them. Theories abound, but no one is certain. Easter Island is, in a sense, a fascinating miracle.

Easter Day can be like Easter Island for us—a miracle, but an island, isolated from the continent of life. An annual religious observance and little more. The last church I pastored typically experienced a 50% decline in worship attendance from Easter Sunday to the next week. Other churches in our community experienced the same decline. Clearly, many people see Easter as an island, unconnected to the rest of the year. A religious event with little relevance to our daily lives.

But our lives and souls need more. We need a transforming daily experience with the Christ who rose on Easter Sunday. This Lenten guide is intended to help you encounter the rising and living Christ every day.

Is Easter an island you visit or a home where you live?

What God's word means

1 Corinthians 15 is the third-longest chapter in the New Testament (after Luke 1 and 22). It is probably the earliest written record of Jesus' resurrection, likely predating the Gospel records. Paul wrote it to brothers, men and women who had made Christ their Lord and now constituted the church in Corinth. However, some were confused. Their Greek culture viewed the body as the "prison house" of the soul and rejected the concept of its resurrection. As a result, these readers believed that "there is no resurrection of the dead" (v. 12).

In response, Paul sought to remind ("make known so that you remember and understand") them of the gospel ("good news, glad tidings," a word Paul apparently coined) he preached ("proclaimed, heralded") to them when he established their church (Acts 18:1-18). They had received ("taken as a personal possession") this message when they heard it, and now have taken your stand ("have stood in the past and now stand today") on its truth. Like trees planted in fertile soil, they have found stability here in an ever-shifting world.

Why Easter matters

While 73 percent of Americans say they are Christians, just 41 percent plan to attend Easter worship services. Only 42 percent of us believe that the meaning of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus. A mere two percent of Americans describe Easter as the most important holiday of the year.

Like the Corinthian Christians, many of us need to be reminded that Easter is good news. It is "news"—a factual report about an event that has occurred in history. As Paul will prove shortly, Jesus Christ really died on a Roman cross and really rose on the third day from a borrowed tomb. This news is "good"—because Jesus rose, we will rise. Because he lives, we will live.

How to respond

Because of Easter, my parents rose from their grave and are in heaven today. So are your loved ones who died in Christ. Will you join them one day? If you're not sure, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite him to become your Lord and King, then tell a Christian what you've done. If you know you'll be in heaven, thank the risen Christ for your eternal life.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 5, 2014

MINUTE FOR MISSION: ASH WEDNESDAY - I reside in a food desert in Chicago, Illinois. Much of the neighborhood is what many would call an ash heap. Some in the community wonder—as the psalmist often does—if God has forgotten them. Our corner of the world is marked by violence, isolation, poverty, and dust. Amid all of that is the Abundance Project, a group of concerned gardeners who choose to grow organic produce on church property and teach others how to cultivate healthy living. Amid the ashes, dirt, and potholes of our Southside neighborhood is tangible, edible life and hope sprouting from the dirt.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent and is the day we pause amid the many transitions of life to be reminded of our finitude and our Creator.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Experience Ash Wednesday at 1st Presbyterian, 1st Baptist, TOMOROW

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 4, 2014

PRESBYTERY OF SIERRA BLANCA - The Presbytery of Sierra Blanca ministers in southern New Mexico through 17 congregations, two campus ministries, and a preaching point.

We Sierra Blancans are in a bit of a fix this year. First, we just weathered four congregations asking for their release from our denomination. Our commission listened to our commissioners and church members and so bade the four—along with their land, sanctuaries, and assets not designated for denominational use—to “go with God.” This blessing and letting go came with the prayer that, given time, there may be a coming back together. Southern New Mexico is small in population and close-knit.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

PRESBYTERY OF SANTA FE - God’s call did not return empty. At the October 2012 meeting of the Presbytery of Santa Fe, three young adults under the age of 38 were examined for ordination and received as members of the presbytery: Rev. Claudia Aguilar was ordained for service at Columbia Theological Seminary; Rev. David Martinez, for chaplaincy at a local hospice; and Rev. Matthew Pooley, as an associate pastor for Sandia Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 2, 2014

MINUTE FOR MISSION: THREE CRITICAL GLOBAL ISSUES: EVANGELISM - A handless man experiencing homelessness roams Hollywood Boulevard, sometimes asking for money, sometimes catching his breath in a doorway. The details of the accident causing his physical disability are uncertain, and it’s evident that Sean* resists assistance that might get him off the streets. But he doesn’t resist being shown affection and God’s love from someone who really cares.

Sarah has a heart for people living on the streets and the remarkable ability to see the face of Jesus in each person she engages in sidewalk conversation.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

In the News ... "Local ministries to participate in fair trade shopping night"

Ragini Venkatasubban, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Four local ministries will team up for a night of fair trade shopping, coffee and live music this weekend at The Ground Floor.

Scarlet Threads, Africa Bridges of Hope, No.41 and Noonday Collection will hold a fair trade shopping sale from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the downtown coffee shop, 203 W. Wall St. Admission is free.

Live music will be provided by singer-songwriter Jami Stotts, who along with her husband founded Restoration Farm in late 2011, a local ministry that houses single mothers and their children. Voluntary contributions to the musician will benefit Restoration Farm.

All four ministries will sell fair trade items made by artisans around the world who are paid a fair living wage for their services.

• read the rest of this story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. How often have you wondered, where are the young adults in the PC(USA)? Wonder no longer. The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is devoted to the theme of young adults in the church. Its stories, many told by young adults, lift up how Presbyterians of all ages are engaging and joining with Presbyterian young adults in reforming the church for Christ’s mission.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: March 1, 2014

PRESBYTERY OF GRAND CANYON - In its quest to serve its 23 Native American churches and chapels—the most of any presbytery—the Presbytery of Grand Canyon has embarked on two new initiatives to better minister to Indian youth. Annette Lewis, commissioned ruling elder of the Lehi Presbyterian Church in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, received a grant from Cook Native American Ministries to support twice monthly gatherings of youth from 13 Native American Presbyterian congregations on the Gila River and Salt River reservations.

CLICK HERE to read more.