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Focuson God’s Faithfulness

Lenten Devotional 2018The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14

Rev. Emily Wright, Senior Associate Pastor, Roswell Presbyterian Church

Dear Church Family,

The purpose of the season of Lent is to intentionally take time to reflect on Jesus’ life and journey to the cross. The Lenten devotional is a tool to help people reflect on this journey.

The theme for this year’s devotional is FOCUS. So much of our lives we end up focusing on the wrong things. We focus on our jobs, families, bodies, friends, self, and tons of other things. How might our perspective on all things in our lives change if we focused more on our faith?

This year we want to make the devotional more accessible for families with children. In order to do that we have included some devotions that are written by families. We encourage all of you to engage with your children using this devotional as a tool.

If you do not have children living at home, we hope that the entire devotional will engage you as we journey together towards the Cross and eagerly await the resurrection once again.

Blessings on your heads,

Roswell Presbyterian Church Lenten Devotional 2018


Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Philippians 4:4-5 (NRSV)

“It’s my turn to talk. It’s my turn to talk,” said our daughter at the dinner table. But it’s hard to have your turn for everyone to focus on what you have to say when you’re only five and you have three older brothers who want to monopolize the conversation and like to shout over you. As we all gather for dinner, or talk in the car, or sit next to each other on the couch and message each other on an iPad, are we focused on each other or just focused on what’s going on in our own heads?

As a family, we hope that we are focused on and supportive of each other. But it’s important to focus on our faith, too, as this gives us the strength and comfort to focus on each other. There are stumbling blocks to keeping this focus, as we all have responsibilities at work and school that seem to take up so much time. And it’s so much easier to spend time on leisure activities than to give time for God. To maintain this focus, it’s important for us to regularly attend Sunday school and church. We talk about what everyone learned in Sunday school or from the sermon that day. The kids love when they’ve learned something in the Sunday school classroom that Mom and Dad don’t know, or when they can recite a reference to Harry Potter or football from the sermon. We try to take time to focus on faith in other little moments throughout the week.

Questions for Kids• How much of your time do you devote to focusing on your faith?• What challenges do you have in focusing on your faith?• How do you find time for God?

Lenten Devotional 2018Ash Wednesday, February 14

Amerault family - Clay, Melissa, Declan, Caleb, Ian, and Ainsley

Prayer:Dear God, please help us to think about you and devote time for you. Amen.



For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a (NRSV)

I discovered early in my college career that I had a passion for individuals with disabilities. After being introduced to a pediatric occupational therapy internship, I knew without a shadow of a doubt in my heart that this was the job I was called to do. God had spoken so clearly that this was His purpose for me, and I had the drive to do anything it took to fulfill this plan.

The rest of college remained a struggle for me in my academics, social life, and trust for the future. My drive faded. Professors lacked hope in my ability to go to graduate school. I had a laundry list of prerequisite classes I still needed to take, and I became discouraged and doubtful in God’s calling. Almost two years after graduating college, I finally became confident enough to apply to graduate school, yet my doubt in God flooded back into my thoughts when I heard that I was rejected. Why was all my hard work not paying off? Was this not His plan for me after all? I wasn’t focused on my faith, job, friends and family, or any of the other blessings that God had placed in front of me to enjoy at that time. I was impatient, and I felt like neither I nor God was in control of my life anymore.

It is vital to remember that God has a purpose in everything we do along every step of the way. Perhaps I wasn’t able to get into school at that time, but God was calling me to persevere through more application preparation, to work as hard as I could at my job, to focus on my relationships, and above all, to stay true to my faith. Feeling that I was the only one who could be in complete control and thinking that I was entitled to get what I “deserved” were barriers to my faith in God.

I hope to take every obstacle and every moment that may not be in my plan as a sign that this is where I am meant to be at this moment in time. Surrounding myself with a community of faithful peers, praying for continued trust, and reflecting on my countless blessings are ways to feel sound that my relationship with God is greater than any worldly issue that I am facing. God’s timing may not be our timing, but that is okay. He will listen, and He will provide with trust and prayer.

Months later, I was accepted into occupational therapy school, where I have begun the most incredible and humbling opportunity to pursue what I love while following the plan that God introduced to me years ago. He did listen, He did provide, and He was in control when I felt that I was not.

Prayer:Dear God, I want to take this moment to thank You for the countless blessings You have provided me. I may be struggling with understanding why my journey looks different than what I expected it to be, but that is okay. Your plan and Your love can and will conquer any fears, insecurities, and worries that I may have about my direction in life. Help me to understand why I am meant to be where I am in life. Help me to recognize my blessings amidst a difficult time. Help me turn to You when I lose strength, hope, and encouragement. I pray that I will continue to trust in Your plan and know that any issue I am facing in this world is minuscule compared to your vast and unconditional love for me. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Thursday, February 15

Melanie Brannon



“Be still, and know that I am God!”Psalm 46:10a (NRSV)

How do we mere mortals “be still”? Especially, when our odometers are set at full speed? Why is it that I do not focus on my God every hour, every day of my life, knowing that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross so that my life might be cleansed of sin? Is it because I pack too much into my life so that I can look good for my friends and family?

My mother, “Big Alice,” as my brother David called her, was a role model for her children. As a single parent of three kids, she worked two jobs most of her life. Yet she focused on our God. In waking every day, I would find mother on her knees praying. Before going to bed, she would read her Bible and once again be on her knees praying. When her family or friends faced illness or death, she was there ministering with prayers and food. Mother trusted God with the heavy load she carried. God never failed her.

In living with such a role model as my mother, how is it that I fail to focus and depend on God? I cannot blame it on the fact that our lives are about packing in as many activities as possible. The blame lies with my priorities. Lent provides me the opportunity to STOP AND LISTEN to God. As I anticipate Jesus’ death on the cross, I want to slow down, to wake up praising God for a new day to pray, read His word, and to listen to where He wants me to serve. And… to realize that there is enough time to accomplish all He needs me to do… if only, only, I would listen to His voice.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Prayer:God, help us to see Your presence today in our lives. We trust You to manifest signs of Your compassionate love. May we be open to the opportunities Your grace provides to be changed each day, closer to your dream for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Friday, February 16

Minnie Bowden



Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

When I was a young mother, I would have listed my life priorities as: Family, Friends, and Faith. I realized some time ago that I had them in the wrong order. Dependence not on our own strength but upon God, our Creator, is what gives life purpose, meaning, and direction. I ask God for guidance for myself and for those I love at the beginning of each day. This frees me from worry and lets me go about my day as God has ordered it. I am trying to turn more often each day to the source of power in my life and ask for his leading.

I have believed Matthew 22:39, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” for a long time. I now realize that in order to do this I need to live verse 37 that says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” I am still working on this. Delving into God’s word in Bible study has brought me into closer contact with God and deepened my faith. I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit this study into my schedule. I asked the members of my Bible study to pray for my prioritization of time. God has answered this prayer and I have found the time for study of his Word. The study and time spent with God has helped me put the rest of my life in order.

Prayer:Dear Lord, please help me to focus on my faith in You in order that I may be filled with Your Holy Spirit and fulfill Your command to love others as myself. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Saturday, February 17

Debbie Cagle



Naboth’s VineyardLater the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money. But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.” Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said, “Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?” He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it’; but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” His wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.” The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”

As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

This week, focus on loving others instead of being envious of them.

Listed below are some suggestions of practices to help you focus.Focus through...

Photography - Take a picture of something that represents loving others. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that reminds you to love others.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Ask God to help you love others well.

Focus on loving othersFirst Sunday in Lent, February 18

1 Kings 21:1-16 (NRSV)



From Death to LifeYou were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Reflection:• How do you feel you have died to the “course of this world”?• Or maybe, how do you need to do this?• What difference does it make that God is rich in mercy to you?

Prayer:Holy God, although the things of this world dare to trap me and hold me captive, help me to remember that I have been saved through faith. Help me to know how kind and good You are today. Amen.

LectionaryMonday, February 19

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)



“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Being asked to write a devotion on FOCUS takes, um, focus. Every family has their challenges and difficulties. At this stage of our lives, we find that the most difficult thing is to stay “focused.” Maybe being asked to write this devotion is God’s way of telling us he wants us to focus this Lenten season.

On a daily basis, we find ourselves caught up in the struggles of softball practice, dance lessons, homework, laundry, tween life, and trying to keep it all together. Mondays can turn into Fridays with the weekends being a rush from one game to another, all the while trying to fit in Billy’s birthday party. It is difficult to focus on the truly important things in life: Faith, Family, and Love. We try to get to onCore and Wednesday Evening Fellowship. We try to get to Sunday school and worship. But many times we are running in late with overwhelmed minds and our attention focused elsewhere. Taking time for our family and being intentional about our Faith and togetherness is a constant struggle. But it’s on these things that we know our FOCUS should be. We know we should eat dinner as a family around the table, discuss our highs and lows of the day, say our prayers with our children every night; yet we find ourselves falling short of these necessities. However, this Lenten season, we will not give up chocolate, sugar, or online shopping, but we will take on an intentional devotion to our family and faith.

The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth.” God calls us out of the craziness of life to slow down and devote time to honor him.

Questions for Kids:• What is Lent, by the way?• What can I, as a child, do for Lent?

Lenten Devotional 2018Tuesday, February 20

Chandler family - Emily, Mike, Isabel, Natalie, and Bennett

Prayer:Dear God, thank You for the season of Lent and for reminding us to focus on our Faith. Help us to slow down and remember the blessings You have given us. Amen.



The Temptation of JesusThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Reflection:• How does the fact that Jesus was tempted by the devil connect with your own temptation?• How can it help you when you are tempted?

Prayer:Holy Lord, although I know that it is normal to be tempted, and that You know exactly what it is like to be tempted, help me to call to mind the scriptures like You did to resist that temptation. Help me to not give in this day to whatever the enemy brings my way. Amen.

LectionaryWednesday, February 21

Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)



“But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

During my first year of college, my gaze wandered from my relationship with Christ to my performance in school. What had previously been a healthy amount of dedication and drive had become an unhealthy obsession to do extraordinarily well. Before I went away to school, every adult attempted to ease my freshman jitters with the encouragement that college had been the best four years of their lives. That sentence was always followed with nostalgic stories of their experiences. I looked back on these conversations confused as to what piece I was missing. Why was I not having the time of my life?

The answer I have discovered is that my relationship with Christ was no longer at the center of my life. My obsession with school had kicked the Father off His rightful throne in my heart. The One who could offer me supernatural peace, unending joy, and an abundant life had been misplaced. This changed as I became involved in an internship at my church in Tuscaloosa that commits me to events throughout the week that push me to set aside my to-do list, seek the face of God, and serve His people.

Take a moment to look up the word “focus.” It means “center of activity.” A point of concentration. A directed attention. Where is your attention directed? Our focus may be on different idols. Maybe for you it’s work, family, or social media. Regardless, we all have worldly distractions vying for our time, attention, and affection. Take a quiet moment to reflect on what could be sitting on the throne of your heart. The enemy will always be scheming to redirect our focus on the ways of this broken world. For me, I have chosen to make a daily choice to seek first His kingdom.

When the sun is at the center of our solar system, the planets make a perfect orbit. If the sun was to disappear, the planets would go flying out of orbit, causing chaos to erupt. My hope and prayer is that during this Lenten season we would all place the Son back at the center of our solar system.

Prayer:Heavenly Father, search my heart. Show me the areas of my life where I have failed to put You first. Take back your rightful place on the throne of my heart. You are worthy of all my attention. You are not an afterthought, but rather my first thought. I commit to seeking first Your Kingdom. Let my gaze be transfixed on You today, Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Thursday, February 22

Izzey DeCarlo



Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

From Christmastide to Eastertide, I find it easy to focus on the elements of these seasons, seeing God and His greatest gift to humankind - His Son, Jesus Christ. I’m certainly guilty of calling both of these my favorite seasons. It’s a time of beautiful music, a time of giving, a time of sharing, a time of witness, a time of meditation; as well, it’s a time of reflection.

I grew up in the 1950-60s, and my parents were incredible role models of faith in God, work ethics, giving and tithing, and standing by your word. No matter what your talents might be, you were to use them to the Glory of God. While at a young age I felt I was blessed with many gifts, I didn’t realize all of them; and the more I grew and matured as a Christian, I understood that these talents are blessings from God. One of these blessings is my love of music, and it has been everlasting - all types of music: classical, sacred, gospel, and country. My gift of voice has also been in relationship building and service to others which completes me! Whether a musician, a teacher, a realtor, or running an insurance business - God has given me an ability to have vision, to lead, to organize, to help, and to serve others! Webster’s definition of “service” is “help given to others,” and with God’s help, I can use these talents to make this planet a little bit better than I found it. During this season of Lent, as I evaluate my gifts, I ask God to help me witness with my time, my talents, and my treasures to help and serve others. My prayer for you is to find your passion in your gifts and to find ways to use them.

Prayer:Dear Lord, help each of us to use the gifts You have graciously given us today for your glory. Amen.

Lenten DevotionalFriday, February 23

Fran Farias



Peter’s Declaration about JesusJesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Reflection:• If someone was to ask you who is Jesus, what would you say?• Is there someone who you need to tell this to in your life?

Prayer:Holy God, You are surely the Messiah, the anointed one of God. I praise You that I know this and believe this. Help me to share this good news today. Amen.

LectionarySaturday, February 24

Mark 8:27-30 (NRSV)



Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”

This week, focus on finding contentment in Christ.


Photography - Take a picture that represents contentment to you. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that reminds you to focus on contentment in Christ alone.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Ask Jesus to help you find true contentment in Him.

Focus on contentment in ChristSecond Sunday in Lent, February 25

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NRSV)



It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop.

1 Corinthians 9:10b (NRSV)

How often have we heard the phrase, “Money isn’t everything, but the lack of it surely is”? As we live our daily lives on this earth, are we not consumed with possessions, status, success… i.e., money and what money can buy? We seem to always be concerned with what others think of us based on what we have. Add to that our planning for retirement so as to be able to enjoy our later years and not be a burden to our family members. After the Fall of Man, God set the future parameters for man, saying that “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:17) Thus, not working is not an option! So then, how do we fine-tune our purpose for work in order to keep from being consumed with the desire of accumulating money? Following Jesus’ teaching, the apostle Paul reminds us: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Paul further admonishes us to work in hope and to glean in the hope of sharing our rewards. (1 Corinthians 9:10)

Let these verses be a daily reminder of how we are to work.

Prayer:Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You today with praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings You have given us. Please help us to be ever mindful of Your teachings with regard to our true purpose for work. Please grant us the wisdom to work hard, not for personal gain and the accumulation of money, but for our hope for eternal life with You and the opportunity to share our rewards on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Monday, February 26

Nena Gavigan



God’s Faithfulness to IsraelO give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.”

Reflection:• For what can you sing praises to God this day?• Is there anyone to whom you can tell today about the wonderful works God has done in your

life?

LectionaryTuesday, February 27

Psalm 105:1-11 (NRSV)

Prayer:God, You are good. You are always doing wonderful and amazing things, even when I do not see it. Help me to praise You more than I doubt You today. Amen.



Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord.Jonah 2:7a (NLT)

I think back to the time in my life when I was a single, divorced woman, wondering if I would ever be married again. God had blessed me with three beautiful children and five grandchildren, many loving friends and a rewarding career, but still I felt something was missing. The dating scene left me questioning whether I would ever find that special man with whom to share my life. Instead of focusing on God and His direction for my life, I was caught up in my own desires and thoughts about what brings true happiness.

One night, shortly before I fell in love with that certain special man, I literally cried out to God, telling Him that if His plan was for me to be single the rest of my life, I would be fine because He had blessed me with family, friends, etc., to make me happy. If, however, His plan included a kind, Christian man, it would be nice if he were also a “music man!” Well, God works in mysterious ways. He blessed me with both! He taught me how amazing life can become if we give up the desires of our hearts and focus on Him instead of ourselves.

Prayer:Father God, please help me to discipline my mind and keep my focus on You. Help me to remember those times when I can clearly see Your hand in my life. Thank you, Lord, for Your love and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Wednesday, February 28

Linda Graham



The Israelites Reach Mount SinaiOn the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.”

Reflection:• What do you think God means when he says the whole earth is mine?• Do you believe this? Why or why not?

Prayer:Creator God, although it seems that much of the earth is in chaos, today I trust that You are in control. I believe that the whole earth is Yours. Amen.

LectionaryThursday, March 1

Exodus 19:1-9a (NRSV)



Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.Proverbs 16:3 (NRSV)

Many people would describe me as a focused person. It seems my whole life I have been focused on some goal or other. Encouraged by my parents, I was focused in school working towards good grades so I could attend a good college. As I graduated college, I was first focused on getting a job, next getting into graduate school, and then a job again. Before I knew it, I was in Atlanta, a city where I knew no one. My focus became making Atlanta my home, which led me to a great church. I found some interesting groups, but I was still quite lonely in my new city. During Christmas that year, I found myself in the hospital for a week after a ruptured appendix, followed by another week recovering at my parents’ home. While I was focused on getting better, I also found myself with a lot of time to reflect and pray about my life and what was next for me.

I returned home to Atlanta with a new focus - to be in the moment and trust that God had a plan for me. It was then that suddenly some of the missing pieces in my life started to fall into place. I met a great guy (who would become my husband), and developed some close friendships that would last to this day (20+ years later).

While I am still a focused person, I try to be more focused in the moment rather than always thinking three steps ahead and maybe missing the treasure right in front of me. My focus is my family and being truly present for them as much as possible. I try to actively listen and be involved with them, but we have also strengthened our bonds through family vacations where we can be together without the pressures of day to day life and just enjoy one another. Of course, I still have hopes and dreams for all of us, and we try to do the things that will get us there; but I am intentional about staying focused in the moment and trusting that God will show us the way.

Prayer:Dear God, help me to stay focused on the things that are important in Your eyes and trust in Your will. Keep my heart and mind open to be present in my life and see the opportunities and gifts You have laid before me. Help me to leave my fears, hurts, and disappointments with You and feel Your love and strength as I go through the day. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Friday, March 2

Kristen Huffman



And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

When our daughter Sarah was born, my husband James and I assumed the eight-hour class on parenting a newborn was enough to know what to do. Well, we were in for quite a shock. We had no idea what to do with this newborn baby. And the weight of the responsibility of a new little life combined with hormonal ups and downs was especially terrifying for me. Our family was a great support for us during this time; however, I have to admit God was not in the picture much at all. James and I used to tell people we were in survival mode. We only did the “necessary” things. We put all of our focus on our newborn, which is a perfectly natural response. However, as Sarah grew, we continued to stay in survival mode. I was back to work and by the weekends, I was exhausted. We had gotten out of the habit of coming to church. Raising a young child took a lot of energy and it was easier to just stay home, rest, and focus on our little girl.

Now that I look back on that time, I realize now what we missed. We missed a weekly time to connect with God as a church body to praise and glorify Him. We missed connecting with our church family who could come around us in support. In our newfound busyness, we took our eyes off of God and missed the nourishing love that God can give in our weakness.

Seventeen years later, we still struggle somewhat with this as do many families. We soon found out that as our children grew, so did the busyness. Rest on the weekends is impossible with multiple soccer games and other activities taking up our time and energy. Throughout the years, we have come to realize how important coming to church on Sunday mornings as a family is, and we have worked to make it a priority. In honesty, getting up early on Sunday mornings to come to church can feel like a chore, especially when you have teenagers that can sleep through the morning. However, unlike our other activities, something always happens once we get there. I can feel God at work. The energy and love between members of the church brings a peace and joy that actually energizes rather than drains. Our family comes home refreshed and ready to take on the week with the love of God behind us.

Questions for Kids:• Does God ever get mad if we don’t go to church?• Why can’t we worship God with just our family?• How do people who can’t physically come to church worship God and stay a part of the church family?

Prayer:Dear Lord, thank You for loving us, no matter what we do. Help us to remember that worshipping You with our church family brings us even closer to You. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Saturday, March 3

Kish family - Teri, James, Sarah, and Charlie



Glorify God in Body and Spirit“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “The two shall be one flesh.” But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

This week, focus on glorifying God in body and spirit.


Photography - Take a picture of something that glorifies God. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that is glorifying to God.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Ask God to guide you both in body and spirit in the direction He is calling.

Focus on glorifying God in body and spiritThird Sunday in Lent, March 4

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (NRSV)



The Joy of Worship in the TempleHow lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.

Reflection:• What has brought you the most joy lately?• Have you thanked God for that moment? • If not, spend time doing that now.

Prayer:Gracious Lord, I praise You for the ways You provide for me and bring me joy. I praise Your name above all else. Amen.

LectionaryMonday, March 5

Psalm 84:1-4 (NRSV)



I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

When our daughter was in pre-kindergarten, we started becoming aware of some learning differences. Knowing that her father was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, we decided to proceed with psychological education testing. Our suspicions were confirmed. Given her dad’s history, we were determined to start our daughter’s education career out on the right path and sought out environments where this would be possible. We eventually found ourselves at a school located in Buckhead.

Tuition for this private school was not cheap, and the thought of paying this cost for a school year, let alone two, just seemed impossible. Both of our parents are on fixed incomes in retirement and scholarships were not an option, so this was all on us, or so we thought. We prayed about what we should do. Equal to the stress of tuition costs were the logistics of getting our daughter to and from Buckhead for school every day from our home in Roswell, while we both worked, full time, non-flexible jobs. It honestly did not seem possible!

After much prayer, we eventually decided to go for it, not knowing how it would all work, but knowing God was giving us comfort and peace with this choice. That first year was not easy by any means. We made budget cuts and spent hours in the car each day driving between home, school, and our offices. But, we learned when God provides, HE REALLY PROVIDES! He provided for us in ways we did not even conceive possible. We had originally thought if we could afford two years that would be incredible. God provided resources through a means we did not expect that allowed us to attend four years, which is what our daughter really needed! We also entered into a carpool with a Christian couple who had a son our daughter’s age that attended the school. They were able to pick-up our daughter every afternoon from school and bring her home, cutting hours out of our day sitting in late afternoon traffic.

This is our daughter’s first year after outplacing from the school for dyslexia and the early intervention worked. She has done amazingly and has learned how to use dyslexia to her advantage! Through the last five years, our family learned that when you trust in God, things might not be easy, but all things are possible!

Question for Kids:• Is doing what God wants you to do always easy?

Lenten Devotional 2018Tuesday, March 6

Knudsen family - Lisa, Chad, and Kate

Prayer:God, please allow me to trust You and know that You are always in control. Amen.



Jesus Cleanses the TempleThen they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Reflection:• What do you think about Jesus’ anger in this passage?• How does the fact that Jesus had real human emotions help you?

Prayer:Holy God, there are things that I am angry about today. You know what anger feels like. Help me to control my anger to be gracious towards those around me and myself. Amen.

LectionaryWednesday, March 7

Mark 11:15-19 (NRSV)



Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which is also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:3-8 (NASB)

As Christy and I reflect on the history of our own family, we have learned that subduing selfishness and embracing servitude becomes more challenging yet more necessary. In truth, to love perfectly requires sacrifice and service, and we struggle with this on a daily basis. Now, as our eldest daughter’s demands grow, we realize more than ever that we must steadfastly remain patient, humble, and ready to serve. Christy and I often feel overwhelmed, as the endless list of chores, work calls, doctors’ appointments, and playdates seem to demand 25+ hours per day, that we do not know where to turn or how to accomplish it all. Inevitably, we have our moments where we have to shout – selfishly – that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, I NEED MY TIME! I acknowledge this will not change anytime soon. We will still demand “me-time,” and we still will have work to do. But Christy and I have learned that some of our most loving moments now are when we serve one another. I am moved when Christy selflessly completes bed-time when I walk in from work. Similarly, two hours alone to grab a coffee and do some shopping while I watch the girls completes Christy’s weekend. In this way, we have learned, that humility and service gratifies us the most. We reflected on the above verse with our family together to express our love in the most Christ-like way possible – as a servant for one another. We spoke with our daughter about how wonderful she feels when she plays and spends time with Aubrey – and the delight her little sister has in that time as well. We talked about how proud we were when she demonstrated love, kindness, and consideration in how she can help us. When she tells us about her excitement in Sunday school or her new blessing over lunch, we give her our undivided attention. We reflected on how it made us all feel, and how putting the needs of others above yourself is fulfilling and worthwhile, and often more gratifying than serving oneself. We also reflected on the verse in how Jesus, existing in the form of God, chose to humble himself as a servant and dedicated his life – and death – to that pursuit. In that way, our devotional is to focus on the service to others – to those we love but also to those less fortunate than us. During this Lenten season, we will reflect and dedicate time to ensure our service can glorify God and bring us closer to Him.

Questions for Kids:• What does it mean to be selfish?• Why does God want us to put others before ourselves?• What are some different ways we can help others?• How can we dedicate more time to God in our daily lives?

Prayer:Dear God, We love You so much! Help us not to be selfish. Teach us to be nice to everyone and to serve others. Bring us together to read stories about You, so we can learn about Your love. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Thursday, March 8

LeBlanc family - Adam, Christy, Payton, and Aubrey



“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

We were in the middle of nowhere, on I-95 in Florida, heading toward the beach. In an instant, pushing the gas pedal was not moving the car forward, and smoke was pouring out of the van. We were driving an early model Honda Odyssey. Yes, it was the transmission. It is one of those stories that has comedic elements, but only in hindsight. Our favorite element: of all the places in the state of Florida to come to a stop, our kids’ door was opened at the spot of the world’s largest red ant pile, a fact we only realized after all four kids had jumped into it! We rode in a tow truck the rest of the way and were able to get the transmission replaced at the Honda dealership in Daytona.

For the kids, this was an adventure. For the parents, it was a disaster. We were in the middle of a major career shift and money had rarely been tighter. The first few days in Florida were spent getting back and forth to the dealership to figure out what was going on with the van and how much it was going to cost. Not a relaxing beach time. It took us a few days to get to the point where we could understand that we would eventually get out of this. We would make it back home, would somehow get back to work, and would eventually pay for all of this.

The hope for our family is that it doesn’t always take a few days to get perspective, look to God, and have faith that the future will get here whether we worry about it or not. For us to get out of our worrying patterns, it is important for us to unplug at least one day a week, from work and responsibilities. We also have put a limit on our technology intake (“tech time”) because we have all noticed the connection between our grumpiness and too much tech time, which leads us to conflict and worry.

Questions for Kids:• Do you suffer if your tech time is limited? Why?• What have you worried about lately? What do you do to stop worrying?• How can you play it cool when the unexpected happens?

Prayer:Dear God, help us to not worry, stress, or freak out. Remind us that with everything that happens, You are in control. Amen.


Luce family - Jeff, Denise, Levi, Avery, Wyatt, and Roxie



Nicodemus Visits JesusNow there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”

Reflection:• When was the first time you heard the saying “born again”?• What do you think Jesus meant by that?

LectionarySaturday, March 10

John 3:1-13 (NRSV)

Prayer:Gracious Lord, You give each of us new life each day. I praise You that this allows me to be born again with your grace and love. Amen.



The Man with a Withered HandAgain he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

This week, focus on being restored in Christ.


Photography - Take a picture of something that reminds you of restoration. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that gives you a sense of restoration.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Ask God to restore you in mind, body, and spirit.

Focus on being restored in ChristFourth Sunday in Lent, March 11

Mark 3:1-6 (NRSV)



For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

My busy life was humming along, and I was completely consumed by my job, often booting up my computer after my oldest son went to bed and working past midnight. I was running a big project, and I was focused. On work. All in. I was also pregnant with my second child. I had to finish this project before life got even more hectic.

Then, at the beginning of my 20th week of pregnancy, I found myself in Northside Hospital, diagnosed with previa and the risk of premature delivery. I would stay on bedrest (mostly at Northside) for the next 77 days. It’s amazing how quickly your priorities can shift when faced with a life or death situation. My sole focus now was on rest and the health of my baby. And with that, my focus was squarely on my relationship with God. I had lots of time to pray, to let in the prayers around me that were lifting me up. And to think about my faith. I realized that work can survive without me and that I needed more focus on balance.

Ryan was born two months early and spent a month in the NICU. Three weeks after getting him home, a tree fell through our house, shattering contents onto the table we had just gotten up from 60 seconds earlier. We moved out for four months while they rebuilt.

People often asked me how I got through that year. I often tell them that I wouldn’t trade it… it was my ‘God year’… the year my focus really shifted to my relationship with God and my faith. Now when things get busy, I try to focus on God, who always stands by me.

Questions for Kids:• How do you keep faith even though bad stuff is happening? • Does your faith go down when bad things are happening?• How does all of the support and prayers from other people help?

Prayer:Thank You God for staying with us even when we lose focus. We pray that we will still have faith in You when bad things happen. We hope that we remember that God should always be the center of our focus. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Monday, March 12

Lupinski family - Nancy, Scott, Alex, and Ryan



Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many TroublesO give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.

Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Reflection:• Where has God redeemed you?• Where do you need to receive God’s redemption?

LectionaryTuesday, March 13

Psalm 107:1-16 (NRSV)

Prayer:Holy God, You are constantly gathering me in and sending me out into Your world. Help me to receive Your grace and redemption so that I feel able and capable to do Your will. Amen.



Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8 (NRSV)

In today’s world of instant everything: information, communication, etc., it is very easy to lose focus on God and His Will for us. Too many things are shouting out for our attention. If we aren’t careful, we can become consumed by the things of this world.

For our family, keeping focus takes a lot of intention and work and sometimes things sneak up on us. Similar to Mark’s career in law enforcement, we feel God leaves us clues as to what needs our focus. Eight years ago, after the birth of our first child, we were adjusting to the huge (and awesome!!) change of caring for a small human. It was a hard shift from the two of us to the three of us. Our marriage developed some tension and miscommunication. God was giving us clues that we had to make sure we created a family but also didn’t lose our focus on each other as well.

Sometimes we focus too much on the busyness of our life: who needs to be where, how to logistically make everything happen, and feeding everyone - much less sitting down to a meal together. Over the past couple of months, we have followed the clues to make more family time. This means sometimes saying “no” to things and reducing our schedule so that we can enjoy family game nights. As I look around our house and see all of our “stuff,” I am reminded of how much we have but that we don’t “need” all of it. We want to set examples for our children that the stuff doesn’t matter, but people do. Around our town, we see people who need to feel cared about. This is another clue for us. Our family has created bags with toiletries, snacks, and water to give to people who need them and remind them that they matter.

As we journey along our path, clues are all around us. Sometimes they are physical, tangible items that call to us. Other times they are fleeting ideas or God talking to us through other people. We have to make the decision to be aware of them and see what changes they are prompting in our life. Sometimes we receive clues from a speaker or sermon, prompting us to examine our priorities. We are thankful that we journey with a community of faith to determine the clues.

Questions for Kids:• How do you find clues for following God’s Will?• What are some clues you have seen in your life?• Do we get clues at every age, or only as adults?

Lenten Devotional 2018Wednesday, March 14

Macdonald family - Valerie, Mark, Madeline, and Harris

Prayer:Dear Lord, thank You for our world and all that is in it. Help us to focus on You and follow your clues. Thank You for loving us. We love You. Amen.



Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

Jesus is consistent - steady, constant, solid as a rock. I am truly enamored with His consistency, because it is in complete contrast to the ways of the world. The world is inconsistent and so am I. I find myself focused on circumstances and emotions which can change unexpectedly and unpredictably. As people, we often look to others to provide the stability that only the Lord can provide us. What does Jesus’ consistency look like? For me, I know I can rely on His continual presence in my life. He loves me unconditionally and forgives me wholeheartedly. He is always in control despite the chaos that might surround me. I can look to Him for strength and comfort when my body is tired and my heart is aching. I can depend on Him to protect and guide me when I am making hard decisions or when I am struggling with grief or negativity or doubt. When I think about Jesus, I am so overwhelmed by His consistency. I know how often I let my circumstances and emotions burden my daily life - maybe it was the weather or the traffic or a rude client at work. Maybe I’m tired or hungry or sad. I find it hard to be consistent, but when I look to Jesus, I can be grateful and humbled by His example. What a comfort it is to know He will never falter!

Lenten Devotional 2018Thursday, March 15

Allie McCubrey

Prayer:Thank you, Lord, that we can trust that you are consistent - that you are our solid rock, for now and forever. Amen.



Jesus the Great High PriestSince, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Reflection:• How could Jesus possibly be tested in every way we are?• How does this fact give you hope today?

Prayer:Amazing God, You give me confidence and hope today because You truly know what it is like to live on this earth. Remind me that I can get through anything with Your help. Amen.

LectionaryFriday, March 16

Hebrews 4:14-5:4 (NRSV)



And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O ye of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:26 (ESV)

Change. It is not a word that I am fond of. I am a creature of habit and I am very comfortable in my routine. When someone mentions a change to my routine I get nervous. I have a fear of the unknown. What new challenges will this change bring? Will I be able to handle them?

I’ve learned throughout my life, however, that there are times when change is necessary and sometimes inevitable. I’ve had to learn to adapt to change and embrace change as a new adventure. I also have learned through faith that God will lead our family along the way.

Our family has dealt with many changes over the years. Some happy, some sad. It is in those sad, reluctant, and/or inevitable changes to our lives that I’ve felt our faith was being tested. It has been in those moments that we must remember to pray harder, lean on others, and push ourselves to stay faithful. Faith doesn’t come easy for everyone and that is okay. In an effort to stay focused on our faith, our family has learned to surround ourselves with others who will (often unknowingly) build us up when we feel broken. We seek scripture or quotes that bring us comfort and/or strength, and we volunteer to help others who also need support.

We feel very fortunate to have found RPC. We feel that it is truly a congregation that is dedicated to helping us focus on our faith and instill in our family the tools to handle any change that may come our way.

Questions for Kids:• How do you not get scared when you are scared? • What is faith?

Prayer:Dear Lord, be with us always and help us to stay faithful and trusting in Your word. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Saturday, March 17

Miller family - Ashley, Mark, Jackson, and Molly



SalutationSimeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The Christian’s Call and ElectionHis divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.

This week, focus on supporting your faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.


Photography - Take a picture of something that reminds you of faithfulness. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that supports your faith.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Ask God to help you put your faith into action.

Focus on your faithFifth Sunday in Lent, March 18

2 Peter 1:1-7 (NRSV)



Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble.Who among them declared this, and foretold to us the former things?Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, “It is true.” You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen,so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the Lord. I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is no one who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?

Reflection:• When was a time when you saw God work without your having any control over it?• Was that easy or difficult? Why?

Prayer:God of all since the beginning, help me to see how You are at work within me and around me. Help me to see how I can join Your work. Amen.

LectionaryMonday, March 19

Isaiah 43:8-13 (NRSV)



“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”John 17:17 (NRSV)

The concept of “focus” is personal for me. In the sixth grade, I happened to try on my mother’s glasses and, to my astonishment, clarity occurred. The world was new and amazing. The fuzzy objects in the room suddenly were sharp and distinct. Outside I saw the demarcation between the forest and the field. Riding in the car, I saw my neighborhood in a new way. It wasn’t that I was blind. But I was impaired. As I began to wear glasses, I began to understand the simple workings of the eye lens – to bend and focus light to the right place on the retina at the back of the eye. Occasionally, I would need a prescription upgrade to bring things back into focus. In the past year, blurriness of my vision has accelerated. Before Easter arrives, I will have had cataract surgery on each eye. And, as many at RPC who have gone before tell me, much clarity will return. I will just need reading glasses. I can say simply that my faith in Jesus Christ acts as the best lens to bring the world and my life into focus. Of course, it gets quickly complicated trying to understand the intersections of my faith with the world and my life. Even more fun are the conversations we have with each other sharing the blurred complexities and entanglements of our lives and our world. In Jesus’ prayer before his arrest he prayed that his disciples might be sanctified in the truth and the Word. We are those disciples, too. Sanctification means growing in grace. Faith becomes less blurry through worship and daily devotions, living one’s values, caring for each other, and praying with the hope of the resurrection.

Lenten Devotional 2018Tuesday, March 20

Dr. Bill Nisbet, Assistant Pastor, Roswell Presbyterian Church

Prayer:By your Spirit, Lord, adjust my focus each day to more clearly see you in the new day, in old and new friends, and in each opportunity to share love and mercy. Amen.



The Future Glory of the TempleIn the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.

Reflection:• What is God encouraging the people to do in this passage• What does that say about who God is and what God can do?

Prayer:Heavenly Lord, I know that You are all-powerful and also so very good. Help me to trust both Your power and Your goodness today. Amen.

LectionaryWednesday, March 21

Haggai 2:1-9 (NRSV)



Imitating Christ’s HumilityIf then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God. did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection:• What words stuck out to you from this passage about Christ as a servant?• How can you follow this example this week?

LectionaryThursday, March 22

Philippians 2:1-11 (NRSV)

Prayer:Merciful God, You gave everything up for me. Help me today to live as a servant as You did. Amen.



Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

This world is full of so many tempting distractions. It’s easy to get caught in the maelstrom of daily life. We feel like we’re left alone to bear the weight and find a way out. Being busy is the way of life for our culture, so concentrating on the freeing peace of God can seem very difficult! We lose sight of the fact that He is always with us, holding on tight.

My family left my childhood church and joined RPC right after I graduated high school, but I had not yet really gotten involved. I lost a big piece of who I was while in college. I ended up doing things I never thought I would and spending time with people who dragged me down instead of lifting me up. For two years, it was like I was having an out-of-body experience. I was watching myself slip away, and finally I woke up one day and decided I needed to find my true self. The thought of changing my whole life around was a terrifying prospect, but I knew it had to be done.

Part of the downward spiral was ignoring my faith. I never thought God had abandoned me. The problem was that I wasn’t thinking about God at all. I had abandoned Him. It wasn’t until the turning point that I realized He had been carrying me through the whole process! The realization that He still had faith in me was incredible! My soul ached to be part of a church community again, and to turn my focus on God again through studying His Word. I found the wonderful ladies of my PW Circle and the women’s Bible studies, and I made the commitment to God and myself.

It didn’t take long before I was seeing the world in a more positive light; I was much less stressed, and I felt healthier overall. I learned to trust in God and turn things over to Him instead of trying to control or solve everything. I also learned how to forgive myself and others. I had truly found the overwhelming peace of Jesus Christ! It was all so clearly God’s timing! My husband and I started dating just a few months later. There’s no way I could be the wife and mother I am today without having turned my life back to God! I’m still so thankful for the entire experience, the good and the bad. Turning focus to God may be an immediate struggle, but in the long run it is the most amazing and rewarding way to live!

PRAYER:Thank you, God, for always keeping me close and guiding me down Your path. Please help me stay focused on Your way when this world tries to pull me down. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.


Laura Scheer



A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and ResurrectionThey were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

Reflection:• Have you received any bad news lately?• How do you think the disciples reacted when they received this news from Jesus?

LectionarySaturday, March 24

Mark 10:32-34 (NRSV)

Prayer:Amazing Lord, no matter what news I have received or will receive, help me to know that You are well aware of what suffering and pain look and feel like. Help me to see that this did not stop You from dying for me. Amen.



Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into JerusalemWhen they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The King of Kings entered Jerusalem in an unexpected way, but God was at work.This week, focus on God at work, sometimes in unexpected ways.


Photography - Take a picture of something that reminds you that God is at work. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that reminds you that God works in ways we may never imagine.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Give control of your life over to God realizing that God is always working for your good, even though sometimes it is in unexpected ways.

Focus on God at workHoly Week - Palm Sunday, March 25

Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV)



The Servant, a Light to the Nations“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Reflection:• Have you noticed anything new that God has placed on your heart to accomplish or see after

lately?• Spend some time with the Lord praying about this new thing.

Prayer:God of new things, I know You have great things planned for me. Confirm for me what they are and give me the boldness to step out in faith to accomplish them. Amen.

LectionaryHoly Week - Monday, March 26




Christ the Power and Wisdom of GodFor the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Reflection:• How would you describe the message of the cross in five words?• Ponder who you might share this message with today.

LectionaryHoly Week - Tuesday, March 27


Prayer:God of fools, help me to see Your great wisdom in the midst of the world that sees our faith as foolish. Give me confidence to share this foolishness with someone today. Amen.



I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Jeremiah 24:7 (NASB)

In this busy world, there are many distractions that vie for our attention: work, family, friends, sports, extracurricular activities, news, social media, politics, celebrity drama, you name it. We often fill our schedules and our minds with all of these distractions, but don’t reserve time to spend with God.

One amazing truth is that even when our focus is not on God, His focus remains on us. He continues to love us, protect us, and work to bring us closer to Him. In the David Crowder song “I Am,” the refrain goes:

I amHolding on to youIn the middle of the stormI am holding onI am!

Our response to God’s unwavering attention should be to draw ourselves closer to Him and keep our focus on him. But our discipline is weak. We are easily distracted. The pace of modern life and technology pushes information at us so quickly, we become overwhelmed and numbed to any sense of God’s presence. This pace is not what God intended. He wants us steadfastly focused on him, keeping Him in the forefront of our minds.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God!”

It is extremely difficult to regain focus without first sitting still and feeling God’s presence. After time spent in quiet reflection with God, we feel more drawn to God and ready to return to him with our whole hearts, as Jeremiah said. Questions for Kids:• When we are distracted, what can we do to bring our focus to God?• Listen to the David Crowder song “I Am” with your family. What does it tell you about God?

Prayer:Heavenly Father, even when we are distracted with the busyness of life, please help us turn our focus to You. Thank You for Your guidance and for staying focused on us, even when we are not focused on You. Help us return to you with our whole heart. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Holy Week - Wednesday, March 28

Sears family - Craig, Renata, Lillian, and Oliver



The Institution of the Lord’s SupperFor I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Reflection:• What word or phrase sticks out to you from this passage we use for our Lord’s Supper?• Reflect on the meaning of this holy word.

LectionaryHoly Week - Maundy Thursday, March 29


Prayer:Holy God, help me to truly remember the sacrifice You made for me and the world. Help my life to reflect my gratitude and service to Your holiness. Amen.



For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.


For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)

It was February of 2013, and we were living our dream. We had been married for six years and recently completed a tear-down/re-build of our “dream home.” We were in the City of Atlanta with a wonderful commute. We had our first son, after trying to conceive for three years, and our two dogs. The grass could not be greener. This was the life we planned, and it was all coming together.

What we didn’t realize was that God had a different plan for us. After losing our close friends and neighbors to Dunwoody, we started to question why were so set on being in the City. All that we loved was out of reach. We were down to one neighbor on our street with a child in school. We thought, we need to pray on this and see where we need to be. Something called to us that Roswell was that place.

Our house was not yet on the market at the time, and we signed Colin up for preschool at Roswell Presbyterian. We asked, what if we cannot sell? What if we cannot find a house? We looked at each other and just said, God will show us the way. Trust in him, and he executed it perfectly. We were under contract for our sell in less than a week in a horrible market and at the wrong time of year to sell. In return, we bought a very much “needs love and remodeling kind of house” in Roswell. It was not the dream house we just built nor the picture and plans we had focused on and painted in our heads. What God’s plans were for us were even better.

This “needs love kind of house,” has welcomed two more children into our family. It has surrounded us with wonderful neighbors who have become close friends. It took us a year to connect with a church in Atlanta. We tried numerous ones and finally decided on First Presbyterian Church. We had found our place. When we moved to Roswell we thought, what are we going to do? How could we ever find another church that we love? One trip to Roswell Pres, listening to Lane preach, and we knew we were home. Wow, how God was shining on us!

This move provided us a community that we want to raise our children in. It has given us a church that has supported us through our twin pregnancy and extensive hospital stays for both mom and babies. It has reminded us every day to trust in the Lord, because his plans for you far outweigh the ones you think you have for yourself. Please don’t think we weren’t happy in Atlanta or didn’t like it there, because, trust me, we loved it. We had no plans of ever leaving. What we didn’t realize is that God knew where and when we needed to be to raise this family, and executed it perfectly. We are beyond grateful that we listened.

Prayer:Heavenly Father, we thank you that you know the plans you have for us and that they are good. Help us to trust you, knowing that your ways are so much better than what we could plan ourselves. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 2018Holy Week - Good Friday, March 30

Wintermeyer family - Dan, Melanie, Colin, Charles, and Jack



The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:14

There is always a challenge in our everyday lives to balance the constant state of distractions while maintaining a focus on faith. For many of us, family life is often at the center of our focus. While family life should be an important priority, it can also steer us away from our attention to faith. Raising a family by today’s standards can be very overwhelming. There are so many things that can pull our attention away, such as social media, academics, activities, relationships, and sports. For my family, the time management of sports has been a major obstacle in our attention to faith. We all have a shared a passion for sports. Our children have grown up playing a multitude of sports, such as softball, baseball, swim, tennis, soccer, and gymnastics. For a mother of four children, the reality of commitment is intense and stressful on everyone. The last two years have been the most difficult with all four kids in some form of a travel sport. With every weekend seemingly monopolized by activity, I found myself in a constant rotation of practices, games, and tournaments that left little time to focus on faith.

I came across an article in Time magazine this past fall that caught my attention and surmised a bit of my dilemma. The cover story showcases travel baseball and a ten-year-old boy, highlighting the pressures of our children in today’s sports. The controversy of young children being consumed with a single sport so intently was thought provoking on so many levels, but it struck me with the effect it had on my own family as a distraction from our commitment to faith.

As a parent, I want to instill a sense of balance in the life of my children so priorities must be made. Making the time to focus on our faith is a priority that only we can establish. This Lenten season, I am reminded of the importance of making time to embrace my focus on faith above all else. In light of the obstacles that can be distracting for us all, whether it is sports or otherwise, I recall Philippians 3:12-4:1, especially verse 3:14: “The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.”

Lenten Devotional 2018Holy Week - Saturday, March 31

Blair Zavodny

Prayer:Dear God, help us to quiet the noise of the world and all its distractions and focus on You and be mindful of Your presence at all times. Guide us to know and trust You more. Amen.



The Resurrection of ChristNow I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you - unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them - though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

This week, focus on the life-giving victory we have through Jesus Christ.


Photography - Take a picture of something that is life-giving. Use it to bless others by sharing it on social media using the hashtag, #rpclentMusic - Listen to or sing a song that is life-giving.Writing - Write a letter as a prayer to God. Thank God for the life-giving victory we have through Jesus Christ.

Focus on the life-giving victory we have through Jesus ChristHoly Week - Easter Sunday, April 1


lenten devotional 2018 - static1.squarespace.com · reference to harry potter or football from the...

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