Lent Day 30

Psalms 19:7-14 "The Message Bible"

7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. 12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? 13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. 14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Lent - Day 29

Easter Story Cookies

This recipe is to be made with children, to help illustrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Do this on Holy Saturday evening, before the Easter Vigil Mass. These are meringue cookies. The oven will be hot, even though you turn it off for the night, to allow the cookies to rise and become hollow.

Supplies/Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. white vinegar

·3 egg whites

·pinch salt

·1 cup sugar

·Mixer

·1 ziploc bag

·strong wooden spoon

·wax paper

·cookie sheet

·Masking tape

·Bible for Readings

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 300°F.

Place pecans in the ziploc bag. Have the children beat the pecans with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Reading: John 19:1-3 Explanation: after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Let each child smell the vinegar, noting the pungent smell. If they want, have them just taste it on their finger. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Reading: John 19:28-30 Explanation: When Jesus said "I thirst" when dying on the cross the soldiers gave Him vinegar to drink.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent new life. Reading: John 10:10-11 Explanation: Jesus gave His life to give us life, and on Easter Sunday He came back to life.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Reading: Luke 23:27 Explanation: The salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Reading: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16 Explanation: The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Reading: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3 Explanation: The color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been washed clean by Jesus' sufferings and death.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Reading: Matt. 27:57-60 Explanation: Each mound reminds us of the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Reading: Matt. 27:65-66 Explanation: Jesus' tomb was sealed with a large stone and soldiers guarded the entrance.

GO TO BED! Reading: John 16:20 and 22 Explanation: The children may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight without seeing or tasting the results right away. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Reading: Matt. 28:1-9 Explanation: On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Submitted By: Lois Harger

5th Sunday in Lent

By: Ashley Hiller, age 12

Lent - Day 28

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know

Be still

Be

Be

Be Still

Be still and Know

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I am God

Submitted by: Jennifer Newman

Lent Day 27

Sure Footed

Habakkuk 3:18-19

As I stood in the hospital corridor looking out the window to the tree line, a family of deer were peacefully grazing as though nothing was going on. This in stark contrast to the flurry of activity going on around me. Doctors, nurses, and families in their own situations working to make necessary decisions. At the time, there was no way to know that would be the last time I would talk to my father, but God was preparing the way. The days ahead in those halls would bring difficult decisions, but God’s preparation gave me a peace and hope to hold onto.

Prayer: Thank you for the loving care You provide to move us beyond our circumstances. Amen

By. Susy McAdams

Lent - Day 26

1. What do you want to ask God?

What was it like growing up?

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

God will tell everyone when you are coming and decorate it how you like it.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

Coming to church and doing the egg hunt and everything that we do at church.

By: Kayleigh Thomas, age 10

Lent - Day 25

1. What do you want to tell God?

Thank Him for saving me from monsters in my dreams.

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

I don’t know.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

Finding eggs.

By: Jackson Cleveland, age 5

Lent Day 24

Crack Pot

2 Corinthians 3:18-4:7

Through the years, having heard people called crack pots did not make me want to be lumped into that category. The image coming immediately to mind is opinionated and judgmental, none of which I wanted to be. One morning early, close to 10 years ago, I sat quietly reading and these words jumped from the Bible into my heart - God’s definition and man’s understanding were not always aligned. The hurts and pains causing my cracks to come were opportunities for God’s glory, light and life to shine into the darkness. My life and its cracks were to allow others to find hope and peace at the cross.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the freedom to come as I am and be the vessel to reach out into a dark world and shine - being Your crack pot. Amen

By: Susy McAdams

Lent - Day 23

1. What do you want to ask God?

I ask God to say I love you.

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

It’s Pretty

3. What do you like best about Easter?

Easter eggs, I love eggs.

By: Claire Kraus, age 4 1/2

Fourth Sunday in Lent

“Easter” By: Caleb Goodman, age 5

Lent - Day 22

Sunshine and Music

A laugh is just like sunshine

It freshens all the day,

It tips the peak of life with light,

And drives the clouds away.

The soul grows glad that hears it

And feels its courage strong.

A laugh is just like sunshine

For cheering folks along.

A laugh is just like music

It lingers in the heart,

And where its melody is heard

The ills of life depart;

And happy thoughts come crowding

Its joyful notes to greet:

A laugh is just like music

For making living sweet.

Author Unknown

Submitted by: Fern White

Lent - Day 21

Oh Lord of the Sabbath, teach us how to truly rest from our labors. Help me to cease striving. I find myself doing nothing, not because I have nothing to do, but because there are too many things to do and I am overwhelmed. There are too many choices, but one thing is needful. This weekend, let me rest at your feet and worship you in my stillness.

In you Father, there is peace and there is quietness for my soul. I long to be still enough to hear the quiet Spirit as he whispers to me of gentleness. Restore my soul, made weary from the week. Refresh my spirit with the kindness of your Word. Help me to be a refuge for others from their struggles.

I surrender to you all of my worries and work. I sacrifice to you my need for control and ask you to take over this day and lead me beside still waters. I praise you, and I love you, God of Rest, for in you alone I am justified and not by the works of my own hand.

I lift up those who even now are working to keep me safe and secure and free of harm. Bring your peace to the world, and come soon to restore your kingdom forever.

Amen

(from Lazarus Resources)

Lent - Day 20

1. What do you want to tell God?

How is your Son, Jesus?

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

Houses that He built for us.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

When we get lots of Easter Candy

By: Cody Goodman, age 8

Lent - Day 19

Romans 5:1-5 NIV
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Submitted by: Jerry Heintschel

Lent -Day 18

OPEN MY HEART WIDE

Oh holy Father of life, let Your spirit grow within me

Let Your very heart be….the heart that beats inside me

Please touch me …. Open my heart wide

Give conviction to me, so I may serve You

the rest of my life

Let the light of my life be a reflection of You

Lord help me see I can’t do anything without You

Please touch me …. Open my heart wide

Give conviction to me, so I may serve You

the rest of my life

You are right here and You always will be

So full of grace, always supporting me

Please touch me …. Open my heart wide

Give conviction to me, so I may serve you

the rest of my life

When I don’t know what to do, I’ll wait in silence,

I will hear You

I’ll move forward in faith ever working toward that day

Please touch me …. Open my heart wide

Give conviction to me, so I may serve you

the rest of my life

He touched me …. He opened my heart wide

He gave conviction to me, and

I will serve Him the rest of my life

By: Charla Baker

Lent - Day 17

1. What do you want to ask God?

Why there isn’t there peace on earth?

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

Better than we even think it is

3. What do you like best about Easter?

Candy - Candy is really good!

By: Wyndon Carlisle age 10

Third Sunday in Lent

Heaven” by: Caleb Goodman, age 5

Day - 16

Lord Jesus Christ, when you stretched out your arms on the hard wood of the cross you embraced with love all people. So clothe us with your Spirit that we too, with your love, will embrace all. We ask it for your glory, Amen

Submitted by: Jan Kilpatrick

Day - 15

As a new teacher at a middle school, I became friends with another new teacher across the hall. There was lots of bonding as we monitored the hall between classes.
Lenten season gave us the impetus to correct a behavior, instead of giving up something. We each picked a weakness, ex; being more understanding, or less judgmental. We would work on this during lent and beyond, we hoped.
We taught together for seven years and many of our daily problems we shared in prayer.

Friends can sharpen one's thinking with good

counsel. (Proverbs 27:17)

By: Betty Clare

Lent - Day 14

Recipe for: Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients are:

1 lb Hamburger Meat

1 Jar Picante Sauce

8-10 Flour Tortillas

Grated Cheese

Heat oven to 325°

Cook 1lb of Hamburger Meat – drain grease. Add one jar of Picante Sauce to the drained meat and stir. Spray bottom of glass cooking dish with non-stick spray. Layer two or three tortillas in the bottom of the dish. Spoon on some of the Hamburger Meat & Sauce mixture. Sprinkle as much cheese as you like. Continue to do the same as above with each layer until you run out of mixture. Cover with aluminum foil and heat in oven until the cheese has melted. Usually takes about 20 minutes.

It is so easy and so good.

By: Stephanie Westerman

Lent - Day 13

In the paper version of our DPUMC Lenten Devotional Study, the previous entry covered two days, so this let me interject my own voice back into the blog. I apologize for putting a little crazy clergy-mom-mind into the midst of our wonderful devotions! A wise man once said that angels are anyone who has a word for us from God in the midst of life. In this thought, I could be an angel, you could be an angel. Have you ever had someone say just what you needed to hear (or just what you did NOT need to hear) in an uncanny way? I fully believe that God uses all of us to accomplish God's plan and desires. So - listen up! You might have an angel speak to you today, or maybe you will speak a word of God to someone else today. Be ready! My faithful angel for the last 14 years has been my husband Drew. He regularly speaks a little Jesus to me, and though I am not always receptive - I am forever thankful! I love you Drew.

Melody

Lent - Day 12

Who’s Hands?

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth $33 million.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth $6.

A baseball in Roger Clemon’s hand is worth $475 million.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.

A tennis racket in Andre Agassi’s hands is worth millions.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.

A rod in Moses’ hand will part the mighty sea.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy.

A slingshot in David’s hands is a mighty weapon.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands will feed thousands.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it’s in.

So, put your concern your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God’s hands because…

It depends whose hands it’s in.

Devotion Submitted by: Gloria Ervin,

Art work Submitted by: Shelly Jaynes

Lent - Day 11

1. What do you want to tell God?

I love Him.. Thank Him for making my mom!

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

I have no idea.

All kinds of different colored rocks.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

I get Candy

By: Tristan Anderson, age 5

Second Sunday in Lent

By: Presley McRee, age 5 1/2

Lent - Day 10

In our home before this one and in a place not too far away, on a New Year’s Eve I shared a momentous thought with my husband of almost twenty years! With the dawn of the rapidly approaching New Year, I mustered my minimal math skills to confess the great indignation that with the addition of the next year...a birthday would proclaim the dreadful thought of attaining 40! Forty!!! Imagine that?! On this evening, I was blind to a world of blessings surrounding me and a wealth of opportunities available to me. As my vision tunneled to the ominous number encroaching on my meager remaining “thirtyish” days. In a matter of just a few January days, a doctor visit, a MRI, and another doctor visit revealed a tumor sitting on my spinal cord at the base of my brain giving me four choices: do nothing and die, have the surgery and die, have the surgery and be paralyzed from my neck down, or have the surgery and perhaps live. At the end of my third day of tears, I just knew I would win. Romans 14:8, “If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” The first tumor surgery was halted abruptly which led to a second surgery. The following year a different tumor was discovered pushing into my brain requiring more surgeries. Now the tumors are gone, and 40 has come and gone. I treasure the joy of being 61 and a half and sharing my experience with others. I was blind, but now I see; I win and so do you!!!

By: Connie Menn

Lent - Day 9

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.

Isaiah 40:31

Submitted by: Christina McRee

Lent - Day 8

How to Blow Eggs

Why: eggs are basic but beautiful shapes that lend themselves to many types of decoration. They are symbols of birth and resurrection. And hollow, decorated shells last indefinitely and are actually sturdy enough to be hunted. (No rotten boiled eggs in the daylilies.) And because it’s FUN.

How:

Carefully prick a hole 1/8-1/4 in diameter in each end of a raw egg.

Insert a toothpick or skewer into one hole and stir the contents of the egg.

Dry opening at one end of egg and blow the contents of the egg into a small bowl. Save for omelet or baking.

Rinse egg and allow to dry.

Then: the fun part—decorating the empty eggshell.

You may dye the shell as you would a boiled egg. Weight the shell with a spoon or something similar so that it remains submerged in the dye solution.

OR Paint it with acrylic paints, draw on it with markers, or even coat it with nail polish. Apply the paint smoothly or drizzle or splatter it on (be sure to protect work surfaces.)

AND/OR apply stickers or decals. Glue on tiny shapes cut from art paper or fabric. Even dots from a hole puncher make a striking design. Layer small squares of colored tissue paper. The entire egg may be covered with lightweight fabric. Fabric trims work well, too. Motifs cut from lace make elegant eggs, as do tiny ribbon and rickrack. Tiny silk flowers, small photos—the list is virtually endless.

What about the hole? You may cover it when you glue on designs. This is best for eggs that will be displayed in a basket or bowl.

OR Thread narrow ribbon or embroidery floss through the egg, leaving a loop 3-4inches long at one end and securing the other end. Thread ribbon or floss through a small button or cardboard disc and knot,

Hang eggs with loops from a tree branch anchored in a flower pot or bowl. Make a mobile with eggs. Suspend them from a chandelier. You get the idea.

OR pile eggs in a bowl or basket for a centerpiece. Stack them in a tall glass vase. Got any egg cups? There you go.

You don’t have to try all these ideas at once. These eggs last for years. After Easter, store them in clean egg cartons in a cool, dry place until next year when you can add to your collection of treasures. By: Ellois J.(Jane) Frantz

Lent - Day 7

Today is going to be a good day.

God is guiding and directing my steps.

Goodness and mercy are following me and I’m excited about today,

and what He has in store for me.

By: Christina McRee

Lent - Day 6

New Friends and Old Friends
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made Friendships like new Wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test -
Time and change - are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray;
Friendship never knows decay.
For mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old Friends, alas! May die;
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
Joseph Parry
Submitted By: Fern White

Lent - Day 5

1. What do you want to ask God?

I would ask him to help Ryan and guide him through everything.

2. What do you think it is like in heaven?

Paradise. You wouldn’t have to buy anything. And you can do anything you want. Except shoot and kill people. And you never get sick.

3. What do you like best about Easter?

The Candy!

By: Ashley Hiller, age 12

First Sunday in Lent

"Heaven" By: Cody Goodman, age 8