All Voices Matter

Easter SUNDAY, April 9
Matthew 28:1-10

I grew up being told that I was to be seen but not heard when I was among adults. I learned to show up this way, only speaking when called upon—even though I had questions and thoughts about their conversations.

Women in the ancient world received similar messages, given their lower status. Imagine the immense joy and anxiety they felt when the women in this passage heard the incredible proclamation from Jesus himself to tell the disciples: He has risen! Hallelujah! What an honor it was to use their voices to bring good news! 

It was not a coincidence that Jesus chose a group of women to be the first to preach the good news. He amplified women’s voices so they would be seen as co-laborers in advancing the kingdom of God. The vision of a new life with him was an invitation given to all women and men in the post-resurrection era. No one is excluded from having spiritual conversations with others about the good news of the gospel.

Lord, help us to use our voices to joyfully share the good news that we have new life in you, even when we feel afraid of how others might respond. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: LIVE AS RESURRECTION PEOPLE

He Knows My Name

MONDAY, April 10
John 20:11-18

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (v. 16, NIV). 

I am struck by how Jesus meets Mary in the midst of her tears.
It took her some time to realize it was Jesus speaking. He showed up as a source of comfort and revealed himself in the most personal way—by saying her name. It was only at that point that she recognized Jesus. 

Our name is one of the most personal aspects of our identity. If someone mixes our name up with someone else’s, we may feel slighted.
I know my children roll their eyes when I do this. But here, we see
Jesus saying Mary’s name as a way of comforting her. He knows her.
He knows her heart. He cares for her. And he has great plans for her, even in her grief.

Thank you, Jesus, for knowing our name and for comforting us when we grieve. AMEN.

God Is in Today

TUESDAY, April 11
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: ‘His love endures forever’” (vv. 1-2).

What does it look like for us to live every day with the belief that God’s love will endure in any circumstance that comes our way? Is it a naive optimism that minimizes our present reality or invalidates the suffering we have endured? 

In this psalm, we are reminded of the truth that in whatever circumstances we might find ourselves today, we can find hope in
God’s enduring love. We can remember his deliverance in the past
and trust that he will do mighty things beyond ourselves, just as he has always done for his people. 

Let us rejoice and be glad because God is in today. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR AWARENESS

The Lord of All

WEDNESDAY, April 12
Acts 10:34-43

Being a mom of twins is a unique and rewarding experience. People often ask our twins, “Who is older?” They reply that they’re the same age because they were born less than a minute apart. They find it strange that people ask this question to differentiate them. In their minds, they’re bewildered as to why this information would even matter! 

Part of our human condition is to desire some sort of pecking order when we think about how we relate to each other. Hierarchy gives us the illusion that one person earns the right to have power and privilege over another, but Paul clearly states in this passage that God is the Lord of all people, the God of all nations, and he does not show favoritism. Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness and the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who came to bring equality and unity among his people. 

May we testify of God’s love and forgiveness to all people without prejudice. AMEN.

The Brain as the Control Center

THURSDAY, April 13
Colossians 3:1-4

Brain imaging technology has come a long way in the last decade or so, and it enables physicians to observe parts of the brain that might be over- or under-functioning to impact our overall well-being. At the center of our brain activity are our thoughts that flow throughout the day, affecting how we show up in our lives. 

Paul wrote to the Colossians that if their hearts were with and for Christ, they needed to set their minds on things above, not dwell on the thoughts that pursue earthly ways of living. Is our heart aligned with God’s heart for the world? Are our thoughts aligned with the truth of who God made us to be? Real living involves putting to death sinful, earthly thoughts and desires. This is not easy, but the promise is here that one day we will share in his glory. And that is a life worth living for. 

May our thought lives reflect the new life we have in Christ. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 

Sacred Meals

FRIDAY, April 14
Colossians 2:1-7

Every night, our family gathers around the dinner table before we head off to our computers for meetings or to do school work. The meal table centers around conversations of thankfulness for the day as well as lament from our teens about their classes. It has been a sacred time for our family, one that each member looks forward to, as we nourish our bodies and our souls. 

But to prepare for such a sacred time of unity and encouragement takes effort. Everyone has a task—pouring water, getting napkins and silverware, bringing food to the table—it’s all hands on deck to set a table for a family of six. Our hope is that the discipline of gathering around the meal table for sacred conversations will lay down roots for our children to grow in their faith and overflow into other spaces in their life for years to come. 

We pray for discipline in our everyday lives to give thanks to Christ as we seek to live for him. May our hearts never grow weary. AMEN.

A Wardrobe for God’s Chosen and Beloved

SATURDAY, April 15
Colossians 3:12-14

I have never been one to care much about the latest clothing trends, and I find shopping to be a chore. But over the years, I have come to appreciate that there is appropriate attire for every season and occasion, whether I am interviewing for a new job, attending a wedding as a guest, or more recently, being ordained at our Covenant Annual Meeting. 

What do we wear as God’s chosen and beloved people? We have many wonderful choices that Paul lays out in this passage, but the emphasis on forgiveness in verse 13 cannot be glossed over. Forgiveness is not optional; we can only do this supernatural work if we receive God’s forgiveness first. Perhaps we can think of forgiveness not as an article of clothing we wear once but as something we wear day after day until we’ve released the grievance. 

Lord, help us to commit to the process of forgiveness today as God’s holy and beloved people, so that we may be bound together in perfect unity by your great love. AMEN.

PRAYER FOCUS: THOSE IN HOSPICE CARE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS