Lent 2015: Week 6

Sunday, March 29 PALMS and PEACE

Mark 11:7-10  GNT

They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the animal, and Jesus got on.   Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches in the field and spread them on the road.  The people who were in front and those who followed behind began to shout, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord!   God bless the coming kingdom of King David, our father! Praise be to God!”

            A few days ago one of my cousins posted a writing class prompt urging the

developing writers to create a list of words that begin with P, words that had meaning for them at that time.  I was thinking of that today as my calendar devotion was to ponder Peace and it is also Palm Sunday.  My Prayer Picture is composed of how I can be a Piece of the Peace Puzzle.  Other words that came about from morning worship and a sermon about God’s Palm Sunday plans and our future:  People, pardon, plans, Prince of Peace, prayer, proclaim, palms, psalms, piece, peace, Presbyterian, parade, prelude, postlude, play, party, puzzle, and praise.  Wow!  What a list.   Ultimately I summarized my P-Worship Experience and Peace as follows:

            On this Palm Sunday, the Prince of Peace proceeded through town leading a procession or parade of people proclaiming praise.  But their plans for the Promise of Power didn’t come to pass.  God was preparing for a bigger resurrection party for peace.  How do I fit my piece into this Psalm Sunday puzzle? 

            THAT was a plethora of P's!

Monday, March 30  Homeward Bound - Heaven Bound

Fasting: No Treats or Desserts

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 MSG

Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it!  We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies!  The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead.  He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less….

            Today we turn north, heading our truck and trailer on a path that will lead us HOME.  It got me thinking about paths and directions and destinations and HOME.  I received news yesterday of the death of a longtime church member who has truly gone on to his eternal HOME.  What is it about this word that brings up warm thoughts, comfort and security, stability and community?  HOME is where we are unconditionally loved, where our routines are laid out but surprises are welcome. HOME is family and God.  I love the adventure of the road, but I also love the homecomings.  I can look forward to both the earthly home and the heavenly home.  ….  Time to pack up the trailer and say our goodbyes! 

Tuesday, March 31  Service:  Share the Prayer

Matthew 21:22 MSG

Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.

            To pray for someone every day is worthwhile.  It reminds God of a desire for intercession, it becomes persistent prayer.  But just as important is to give the other person the knowledge that prayers are being said.  That prayer-action provides comfort and support, encouragement to know that they are not alone.  Just as worthwhile.  While I often post my prayer drawings on-line, I don’t as often take the more direct action of the phone call -  The chance to say I’ve been thinking about you, praying for you, you’ve been IN my prayers. In other words, I don’t often ‘Share the Prayer’!  So many on the list I could call tonight, but perhaps foremost is a call to my brother.  And then perhaps a couple of emails….   

     

Wednesday, April 1  Prayer:  KINDNESS

1 Peter 2:1-3 MSG

Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness.  Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.

Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus…..All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. 

Kind-ness.  /kin(d)nes/  the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

            Showing compassion, thoughtfulness, and benevolence. 

            Obviously today’s challenge is to prayerfully consider the word ‘Kindness’.  I like these two scriptures because they seem so fluid – we DRINK of God’s kindness and it RAINS down upon us.  Something liquid is always in action, it is hard to keep still.  It seems this is a good way to consider Kindness; we do it.  One can think kind thoughts incessantly, but until those thoughts are put into action, kindness doesn’t happen. 

            When I drink of God’s kindness and grace, when I fill myself to overflowing with this life-sustaining fluid, I cannot help but spill over and share it.  I cannot help but pour a shower of kindness on others.  What ACT of kindness (an RAK perhaps?) can I DO today?

            Speaking of RAKs….these random acts seem to have a way of multiplying when performed.  Kindness is contagious.  Liquids flow easily when shared. 

PS.  Spent most of the day on the road traveling over 500 miles to HOME!  But I did go next door later and tell my neighbor her dog was loose and heading down the road!   Does that count for an RAK?

Copyright Traci Smith 2015 www.traci-smith.com LENTEN PRACTICES CALENDAR FOR FAMILIES:  These activities are based around the traditional 'Three Pillars' of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving or Service.  The pillars are rotated throughout Lent with simple activities.  On the prayer days, use the word provided to inspire a prayer you write, draw, or sing.  All of the activities are suggestions.  Modify as necessary or desired! 



Thursday, Apr 2  Maundy Thursday: This is the night of love.
1 Corinthians 11:26 VOICE
Every time you taste this bread and every time you place the cup to your mouths and drink, you are declaring the Lord’s death, which is the ultimate expression of His faithfulness and love, until He comes again.
            I deliberately waited today to write my thoughts until AFTER the Maundy Thursday service; partly because I wanted to reflect on it, and partly because I didn't like what the calendar was calling me to consider!  I'm glad I waited!  The theme of tonight's service was LOVE; "This is the night of love" was repeated over and over during the opening Call to Worship.  An interesting thought because many call it the night of betrayal; the beginning of the end for Jesus.  (Can you turn that around to the beginning of the end which is a new beginning?)  It is the night of love...love to wash the unclean, love to welcome the wanderer, love to encourage the lost, love to remember our Lord, love to share bread and wine.  
            I also like this theme because I have just started reading a new book titled Love Does by Bob Goff. While an entertaining storyteller, Goff also shares a basic truth. 'I don't care about religion.  I care about love.  I care about DOING love.'  I think Maundy Thursday is the start of such love in action - foot washing, nourishment, welcome, remembrance. 
            "When we drive toward isolation and indifference, may we remember this night of communion and your ever new commandment of love.  May our love and sharing be signs of hope for the world."  (Final words of Confessional Prayer)
                
Friday, Apr 3  Holy Friday   Service: Plant a tree or flower
1 Corinthians 15:39-41 MSG
You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we’re only looking at pre-resurrection “seeds”—who can imagine what the resurrection “plants” will be like!
          Today's challenge couldn't have worked out more perfectly.  The big barrel planters in front of the church are caught in the pine boughs and cones of winter still.  They need the resurrection planting for Sunday's Easter service.  I have bought the flowers and have a date with a friend to put them into the ground.  We are planting snapdragons and pansies - two winter hardy flowers for our sub freezing nights.  The prayer design today is a mix of the hope of resurrection with the darkness of Holy Friday...the crosses on the hillside, the rending of the curtain in the temple.  The pre-resurrection seeds are tucked into the center with the Epiphany star.  We are on the brink of something so totally new we can't imagine it!  


Saturday, Apr 4  Considering Spiritual E Words....
Luke 23:55-56 MSG
The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus’ body was placed. Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.
            It is Saturday.  In Biblical times, it would be the Sabbath, a day of rest.  Jesus has been moved from the cross to a tomb.  All is quiet.  The pain and terror of the crucifixion is over, the disciples huddle together in confusion and despair.  What happens next?
           My cousin, the writer, posted another letter for this week: E.  (She is gradually spelling the word PEN - a tool for writing!)  P for Palm Sunday; E for Easter?  It works for me.  So I compiled my E-word list this week.  I came up with the following:         

Evening, Easter, Ego, Ecumenical, Eternal, Everlasting, Exodus, Elder, Ethical, Evil, Evolution, Exegesis, East, Enthusiasm, Eucharist, Excellence, Exercise, Energy, Excitement, Entrance, Exit, Eagles, Ear, Earth, Early, Eat, Echo, Encourage, Example, Endure, Enemy, Enjoy, Envy, Equality, Error, Escape, Establish, Exalt, Examine, Exceed, Execute, Extinguish, Exile, Extreme, Epiphany, Egalitarian, Evoke.

            So, what do I do with such a list of E words.  The obvious is EASTER!  But I love a good challenge.  How to describe the Events of the Easter weekend with E-words.....

          After the evening of the Eucharist, we encounter extreme fear as we endure the evil of the enemy; the execution of Emmanuel.  But we are encouraged and excited -  for Easter enters with energy and enthusiasm.   Easter brings an epiphany of egalitarian equality, the establishment of eternal ethics, and the extinction of evil and envy.  It exceeds all our expectations and evokes everlasting exaltation!  

          When I sat down to draw my prayer picture, I used the same template I had created for Friday's drawing.  I emphasized four of the E's, the four that tell the whole weekend story.  Eucharist for Thursday night's Passover meal, Execution for Friday's crucifixion, Easter for Sunday's resurrection, and Emmanuel for the reminder that Christ is continually with us and in us.  (The design in that space contains the Hebrew word for Emmanuel). 



Sunday, Apr 5  Prayer: RESURRECTION!!  
Matthew 28:5-6 GNT
The angel spoke to the women. “You must not be afraid,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has been raised, just as he said.
Mark  16: 6 VOICE
“Don't be alarmed,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here—he has been raised!" 
Luke 24:5-6 MSG
The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.
John 20:15-16 NIV
He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means 'Teacher').

res·ur·rec·tion

rez-uh-rek-shuh n 

noun

1. the act of rising from the dead

2. (initial capital letter) the rising of Christ after His death and burial.

3. (initial capital letter) the rising of the dead on Judgment Day. 

4. a rising again, as from decay, disuse, etc. a revival.  

SYNONYMS:     rebirth, revival, reawakening, raise up

     He is not here.  He has been raised up.  Just as he said.  That is the message of Easter morning.  That is the Resurrection (with the capital R!)  There is hardly a synonym to be found that doesn't start with the prefix re- which means again or do over.  The Resurrection gives us another chance, an opportunity to 'do over' our life in a new way.  It is our rebirth in Christ. 

     And what about the 'not here'?  That's only the empty tomb, the empty cross.  Christ is not longer in those places of darkness because he lives in you and in me.  He lives in each God-moment we encounter or glimpse during our day.  He lives!  

     My prayer drawing today captures the major symbol of rebirth and change, the butterfly.  May our new lives in Christ continue to reflect the beauty and wonder of God revealed in us.  

Alleluia!  He lives!