PCJH 2025 Lenten Project

PCJH 2025 Lenten Devotional

Painting by June Nystrom

Dedicated To Jesus Christ Our Lord and Risen Savior

March 5, 2025 Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. The French adjective “lent” means slow. “Lentement” means slowly. Although their etymologies are unrelated to our English word for the season of Lent, a few thoughts come to mind.

Perhaps this liturgical season is precisely about slowing down—not just our physical pace, but our spiritual momentum.

In a world that constantly urges us forward, faster, and more efficiently, Lent invites us to pause, to reflect, and to draw closer to God’s transformative grace.

Consider the wilderness journey. Jesus spent forty days in solitude, facing temptation and preparing for His ultimate mission. His deliberate withdrawal was not weakness, but strategic spiritual preparation. Similarly, Lent calls us to intentional spiritual deceleration—to examine our hearts, confront our vulnerabilities, and realign our priorities with divine purpose.

Slowing down allows us to notice what we typically rush past: the subtle whispers of grace, the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit, the small mercies woven into our daily experiences. It is an invitation to depth over speed, reflection over reaction.

This Lenten season, let us challenge ourselves and each other to move “lentement” in our spiritual practice. Let us leave space for silent prayer, for reading Scripture unhurriedly, and for listening more than we speak.

May we allow God’s transformative love to work not in grand, dramatic moments, but in the gentle, slow unfolding of spiritual renewal. Let us listen for the Lord's "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12 NIV).

Prayer: Lord, help us remember that true spiritual growth is not about how quickly we move but how deeply we engage with Your persistent, patient love. Amen.

Joe Bevash

March 6, 2025 Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into a room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

It was a typical busy Monday at the office. I was facilitating an employee meeting when I noticed my cell phone light up with my daughter’s caller ID. Thinking it was unusual for my college student to call me during business hours, I made a mental note to return her call. Less than a minute later, her name appeared again. Assuming it was urgent, I excused myself to answer her call. I’ll never forget her tearful voice as she spoke the words, “I have cancer”.

Those three words shook me to my core.

Unable to focus at work, I decided to leave for the day to process the news. Instead of driving home, I pulled into the PCJH parking lot. Remembering how Jesus often sought secluded places to be alone with the Father, I headed to the quiet chapel to pray. The moment I entered, my focus shifted from my daughter to Jesus. In the stillness, I heard him whisper, “Lean into me. Trust me”.

Many years have passed since my daughter’s diagnosis, and she is alive and well today. Since then, the chapel has been my go-to place for private prayer. I’ve found that when I turn my full attention to the Father, He rewards me with peace. I encourage you to seek God in the chapel. I promise you; he will draw near and meet you there.

Prayer: Father, when life’s uncertainties come my way, remind me to find a quiet place to pray. Amen.

Kenlyn Long

March 7, 2025 John 6:67-68 You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

For those familiar with the life of Christ, it can be easy to forget how many followers abandoned him long before the crucifixion. Jesus’ life and ministry wasn’t a straight line from obscurity to acclaim. Many followers found his teachings controversial, too hard, too confusing, or not politically motivated enough. Many turned back.

These words of Peter above have stuck with me in recent years. Maybe it’s because periodically, during seasons of doubt and discouragement, I’ve wrestled with the question – “Are Christ’s words truth? Do they really offer the cure for the ails of this world?”

A few years ago, I heard a series of audio essays by somewhat discouraged, yet faithful, Christians that really struck a chord. This was in the middle of COVID and political tempers were hot, including in churches. This series of audio essays was titled, “Why I am Still a Christian.” Some of these folks telling their story talked about hurt in the church, pain due to extremism by fellow Christians, and their own doubts and disappointments.

But a theme arose, that I still resonate with. If not Jesus, who? If not at the cross, where can I find a hope like undeserved grace? Like Peter, I can’t think of nor find an alternative to the hope Jesus offers.

Prayer: Lord, help me in periods of doubt to look towards Jesus alone. Let the hope of his life, death, and resurrection stir my heart once again. Amen.

Brian Bultema

March 8, 2025 Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

As the end of my senior year gets closer, I feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I have been focused on getting here for so long -- working hard, filling out college applications, and thinking about what my next steps might look like. But with so many possibilities ahead, I feel uncertain. What if I make the wrong decision? What if the future does not turn out like I imagine?

The verse from Jeremiah gives comfort, reminding me that God has a plan for my life. I do not have to figure it all out on my own. Even when I feel uncertain about which college to attend or what major to choose, God promises a future filled with hope.

The uncertainty can feel overwhelming, but it is also a chance to grow closer to God. Just as Jesus trusted God in the wilderness, I am learning to trust too. Instead of worrying, I am trying to let go and rely on God’s direction.

Prayer: Lord, with the changes ahead, help me trust You. Guide me when I feel uncertain and remind me that You are always with me. Thank You for the hope You promise.

Amen.

Emma Blount, Youth

March 9, 2025 1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

“To serve or not to serve ?”….shouldn’t even be a question as practicing Christians. It should be a natural reaction – done without thought. The Bible, the Living Word of God, is full of examples of how not only how Jesus came to serve all of humanity, but how his teachings were directed towards us, on how we were to serve others in response to God’s unfailing and unending love. Serving our fellow man/woman in humility, and without hesitation, is our way to honor our Lord. It’s our private and continuous thank you for all we have been given.

The word ‘servant; service; or serve’ is mentioned 1,100 times in the bible according to one website. Scripture reflecting this importance runs through the Bible repeatedly. Mankind is meant to be a community that involves serving others with empathy, compassion, and a desire to make a difference - to set an example for others around us.

My earthly father, Bill, once told me that if we see something that needs to be done for someone else, and we ignore it – our message is that our time is more valuable than that person in need.

Prayer: Father, enable me to see the needs of others. Give me the confidence to serve without hesitation. Let my service to others in whatever means be my priority in my coming and going. I ask Father that Your light shine through me in all that I do and say. In Jesus’ name - Amen Cindy Dahlin

March 10, 2025 John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I’ll never forget one morning when my wife and I were taking turns bottle-feeding our infant son through the night. Exhausted, I found myself awake as the first light of dawn crept into the guest home north of town where we were staying. Rocking my son in my arms, I glanced outside to see the sun's rays touch the peaks of the Tetons, painting them with breathtaking light. In that peaceful moment, the weariness of the night faded, replaced by awe and gratitude.

This experience reminded me of the power of God’s light—how it breaks into the darkest moments, renewing hope and strength. Just as the sunrise transforms the night, Jesus brings light into the shadowed places of our lives.

Whether we are facing challenges or simply the everyday demands of life, His presence assures us that darkness will not prevail.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being the Light that chases away all darkness. In moments of weariness, fear, or doubt, help us see Your light and trust in the promise of Your love. May we carry Your peace and reflect Your love in all we do. Amen.

Colter and Alli Lane

March 11, 2025 Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

I have always liked helping other people. One example of this is when I went to the Good Samaritan last year to make dinner with the PCJH Youth Group. First, they gave us a tour and I got to see what life was like for other people. It really put into perspective; just how lucky I am to live the life I do in Jackson. After we made the food, I was so excited to see the reaction of the people who were there for dinner. I just loved that I was able to do something to help them. It made me happy that I was able to make a difference in our community because that’s what Jesus would do. God is leading me to do the right thing which is helping people who are less fortunate. Jesus served people on earth, and I got to relive that by serving people the food.

After dinner, the supervisor of the mission gave us a tour and he showed us the free clothes station. It really moved me to want to start donating some of my things to people who are less fortune.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thanks for helping everybody who is having a difficult time. We know You will help us and always be there for us. Please bring peace to those who do not have it in their lives. Amen.

Matteo Oldani, Youth

March 12 , 2025 Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Dear Jesus, my Rock and Redeemer, When I reflect on my life, there are so many errors in my ways that I want to take back. Regrets that cause me pain to this day. Shame that still boils up with the memories.

Actions and words that were all wrong. Oh, how I wish I could turn back time and undo them all.

I certainly didn’t mean to cause you great concern or pain but out of that concern, you took my sin to the cross and died for me! Never has anyone exhibited such love for another soul as you did the day nails pierced your hands and feet. My heart aches and my eyes fill with tears when I picture you being mocked, stripped and put through more pain than any man can bear.

I wish I could have been there to experience the power exhibited when you rose from the grave and conquered death. I’m sure I would have been speechless.

Nonetheless, your power is still as mighty today and I thank you for restoring me, reclaiming me and allowing me to be set free from the bondage of guilt and shame.

Even though I still stumble, with you I know that I can press on. The love, mercy and grace that you have shown me over the years is proof of the continuing compassion that you have for me and knowing that your love will not fade gives me great strength and confidence to continue to do so.

Lovingly, Your Beloved Julia Stanley

March 13, 2025 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Five years ago, while visiting friends in Switzerland, I attended an Ash Wednesday service. We received ashes and moved to take Communion but hesitated at the shared cup—news had just broken about the coronavirus reaching Italy, just miles away. Within weeks, it reached the U.S., and soon, the world.

As we continue to recover from the pandemic, both individually and as communities, we’re reminded of life’s fragility. The past five years have underscored that reality, something we are still working through.

Beyond the pandemic, what in your own life is reminding you of your own finitude? What in your life has recently been lost, shifted, or diminished? How are you being confronted with the truth of our lives, dust to dust, this Lenten season?

Prayer: God, we come to You with open hearts, acknowledging the limits of our lives and the loss we aren’t sure how to carry. Move us to trust in Your promises and remind us that they never fade. Help us to place our weight in You, knowing that in doing so, we are renewed.

Amen.

Liz Collins

March 14, 2025 Psalm 139:12 “…even the darkness will not be dark to you; The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

In my childhood home, my parents had a print of one of René Magritte’s paintings from his L’empire des lumières collection (Empire of Light – one of the originals sold at auction for $121 million last year!). I was always flummoxed by the incongruity in the painting. The lower half shows a house and trees in a nighttime setting, lit only by a lamppost and a light in the upstairs window. This darkness is contrasted with the baby blue sky above, which looked like midday with fluffy white clouds. How could it be both night and day at the same time?

Gerry Sittser, author of the New Catechumenate discipleship study that Tammy led, writes “God’s character consists of opposites held together in perfect tension…”. Jesus Christ taught us that two things can be true at the same time. He is both lion and lamb, fully human and fully divine.

How is it that the ultimate conqueror of sin arrives not as a warrior, but as a humble servant who shows both mercy and judgment? How can it be that if we reduce the focus on ourselves, we gain freedom?

Regardless of whether we are in the darkness or the light, our loving God knows and sees and loves us. We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of God’s perfect tension.

Chris Brown

March 15, 2025 John 15:4-5 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me–– I am the vine Yearly I ask the Lord for a word He has for me. Last year He gave me the word “Branch”; when I resorted back to controlling the outcome of a situation I was reminded “just be a branch!” Old patterns die hard. Surrender these thoughts to God, Listen to Him, “You are mine!” The result is freeing and produces fruit.

BELIEVE? Nothing can separate you from God, and He is our true source! At times reviewing my reaction in a situation I did not truly believe this. Telling God the truth about what you believe (Confession) and asking God to remind you of the truth of who He really is renews our mind. This produces transformation.

Lord search me.

RECEIVE? Means something given and the response is to accept it, take it in. Jesus is the vine. As a branch, receive all that He has for you. It can be humbling and difficult to receive. Listen, and surrender. We cannot give away what we have not received.

Lord what have You given me that I am resisting?

Lord open my eyes, ears and heart to receive all You have for me today.

PARTICIPATE? Take part in the result of the fruit that is produced. Sharing it freely.

Holy Spirit give me an obedient heart to Your persistent whisper.

Kathy Robertson

March 16, 2025 John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

God hears us. Not only that, He listens. He tells us that in His Word, and He always tells the truth. He is God, and He is good at being God. My Mom reminds me that God always answers our prayers. He loves His children, and He does not ignore us. He is too good and too kind for that! My Mom and I talked about this on my bed the other night before I went to sleep; His four answers to our prayers are: 1. "Yes." (This is a fun answer from Him!) 2. "No." (This one is harder to accept sometimes.)

3. "Not yet." (Sometimes God asks us to wait for His perfect timing vs. our own timing. I guess that's why being patient is important in The Bible.)

4. "Not in the way you think." (Lots of times, He answers us in surprising ways or through other people we would not anticipate. Surprise!)

Jesus says to His disciples in John 14,13-14 that when we ask in His Name and it's aligned with The Will of The Father, the answer is "yes!"

So when My Mom and I were praying before bed, I prayed out loud for something I believe is God's Will and recited Jesus's words back to Him from John 14. (My Mom said that The Lord delights in hearing us pray His Word back to Him.) Whichever way he answers your next prayer (see #1-4 above), You can surely believe He hears you, listens to you, loves you, and keeps His promises. His Ways are higher than our ways so give Him room and time to answer you.

Sally Keenan, Youth

March 17, 1025 Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul…”

I love the story of Psalm 23, that with God as the guide of my life, I will have all I need and will be led to places that will fill and nourish me.

When I visited the Holy Land with our church in 2022, I was able to see the kinds of “green pastures” that the Psalmist, David, would have imagined while writing these verses. What we might picture as a lush grassy field would not have had enough food for the sheep to stay there forever. Those sheep needed the guidance of one who cared for them enough to lead them through valleys and forests to get them to places of rest and nourishment.

This is like our need for God, the good shepherd, to gently point us in the direction of sustenance and refreshment.

It is only with Him that we have what we need because God knows you and your needs better than anyone.

Prayer: God, Thank You for being the Good Shepherd of my life.

Thank You for Your gentle guidance as I take each step.

I want You in control and to always have You near.

I know that You are guiding and loving me, whether I realize it or not.

Help me to recognize You, in this very moment, in my own life and in Your world. Amen.

Megan Walker

March 18, 2025 Psalm 80:19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Lent may sometimes have a feeling of that of a spiritual downer, cast in a time of tones of grey and left-over Christmas white. Yet, it is meaningful and asks for introspection. But it is still not what one would call exciting. “Behold I bring glad tidings of great joy” is not the overriding theme.

And yet, even before our Lord physically and visibly appeared here on this small outpost in his cosmic kingdom, the scriptures in the Psalms give us the expectant hope that we need.

Three times in the Psalm numbered the 80th, we read: Restore us, O God; O God of hosts; O Lord God of hosts; Let Your face shine, That we may be saved.

Prayer: Lord, we have already been given the glimmer of the glory of Easter. May we open our eyes to begin to experience it. Amen.

Larry Van Genderen

March 19, 2025 Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Last spring, six weeks after my husband died suddenly, I traveled to Zimbabwe, Africa with World Vision, a Christian humanitarian aid organization. Sticking to my plan for this journey was a leap of faith since I didn’t know anyone in the group, would be traveling by myself, and was still processing Ed’s death. In Zimbabwe, Panashe, the 7-year-old boy I’d sponsored for two years, but hardly knew, greeted me politely and gave me a beautiful gaptoothed smile. Over the next hour with him, I learned he was playful, keenly observant, smart, and beyond excited to be in a new place with new friends. This child, his family, and his community live in extreme poverty. They lack many things we take for granted, cars, steady jobs, clean water, adequate food, and higher education. Despite this, they have joy, hope, and dreams for the future. Their hope is largely fueled by support from strangers of modest means like you and me. When we help the poor, we do God’s work because God loves the poor. Stepping out to meet Panashe brought healing to my heart, and hope. — for his future, and mine.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your children, both near and far. Transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

Soften our dispositions. Enable us to give and receive gratefully in Your holy name. Amen.

Jane Lavino

March 20, 2025 Hebrews 10: 24-25 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…

I am blessed to be a member of a church community that offers innumerable opportunities for Christian fellowship – for fellowship has helped to shape and nurture my faith.

Growing up, Sunday church was a weekly tradition in my family, but this habit was broken after I moved to Jackson. Then, twenty years ago, I was invited to a PCJH service by Debbie Schlinger. And so began a long and deeply meaningful connection to our church, with spiritual growth through fellowship at its very heart.

Whether it’s a casual conversation after Sunday service, attending Tammy’s Sunday classes or Wednesday community dinners – these gatherings have become important moments in my week. Winter cross country ski trips, followed by après ski bonding have guided me to a closer faith-filled and fun connection with friends and the outdoors. So, too, are the fellowship dinners with a small group of dedicated church members who meet several times a year to break bread and share our joys and sorrows. International travel opportunities have done the same - our Agros trip to Nicaragua; our trip to Israel; and most recently, our illuminating trip to Greece and Rome.

Indeed, I am blessed and uplifted by church fellowship.

Prayer: Lord, I give thanks to those who, whether they know it or not, have helped me on my faith journey. May church fellowship bring others closer to You, as it has to me. Amen.

Tom Montgomery

March 21, 2025 Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven Lately, I have been pondering Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:1-8 where the different seasons of life are described in detail.

The passage has been very comforting as I think back on the last twelve months. This year was filled with change and excitement with a new home, a new job and a new community. It has also been a year with some times of sadness for the change that has occurred, the community left behind, the connections made harder by distance and longing for anything that is familiar. In all this, I do find the passage to be calming, as it reminds me that everything in this life has come to pass, everything has a season, both the enjoyable and the hard. It literally talks about “a time to weep, and a time to laugh”. The text reminds me to drink in the sweetness of life when I am in a season of laughter and know that there will be an end to my sadness when I am in a season of weeping.

Prayer: Lord, may I see Your goodness in all areas of life.

Whether that is a time of sadness or one of joy. Whether it is a season of change or a season of waiting. May I trust that You hold me through all these and more. Remind me that many things come and go, but Your love never does.

Amen.

Josh Ziolkowski

March 22, 2025 Exodus 16:35 The Israelites ate the manna for 40 years until they arrived at the land where they would settle down.

When I was a teenager, 40 years ago, I thought that wandering in the wilderness for 40 years seemed really stupid. I couldn’t understand why the Israelites behaved so foolishly. And then my dad died, suddenly, from a heart attack. He was 52; I was 17. And devastated. For the next 20 years, I wandered in a wilderness of my own making and then rediscovered my Christian roots through Practicing the Way. Participating in a seven-day silent, meditative retreat, Holy Spirit spoke to me and welcomed me back into a life with Jesus.

This is the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ! He serves a loving God who also loves us and believes in us. “He believes that you can become the kind of person who is loving and joyful and full of peace, patience, and kindness. You can grow into a person of happiness, even in times of great suffering. The kind of person who is not afraid of suffering or even of death, who is free of the emotional need for things to go your own way,” John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way. Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the gift of eternal life, and for the power to walk with You in this life. May You guide my steps for the next 40 years; give me the strength to always choose Your path. Amen.

Becky Kimmel

March 23, 2025 Mark 10: 43-44 But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all This passage, and the Good Samaritan parable have had a profound impact on me. They speak to the basic questions of 1) What to do and 2) How to do it.

We often have selective vision, seeing what we want, and not seeing things that are inconvenient. We’re also encouraged to have a “top down”, “big picture” perspective, staying focused on achieving big tangible goals. This is how we get ahead from the world’s perspective. I was very good at this for a long time.

However, Jesus showed us that we should keep our vision wide vs. narrow and recognize people and situations that are frequently ignored. At a key point in my career God made this very clear to me. I could stay focused on work or change my perspective and look for ways to serve those who are mostly “unseen”. It was at that time I quit my job and Robyn and I spent the next 5 years tutoring and mentoring inner city kids.

Since then, God has continued to bring opportunities into our field of vision that, in the past, we might have ignored.

The common belief is that as you get older, your vision worsens. But in some ways, it can actually improve!

Prayer: Lord, please keep my eyes open to the needs of others, and my heart willing to do inconvenient things.

Amen.

Randy Reedy

March 24, 2025 Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

The moment my father passed from this life was marked by a profound peace, a gift that could only come from Christ. As we sat by his side, I was reminded of the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection.

My father, though leaving us this side of eternity, stepped into the fulfillment of God’s promise—a newness of life that is eternal, free from the brokenness and suffering.

Through Christ, my father’s death was not an end, but a transition—a burial of his earthly body and the beginning of something wonderful. Just as Jesus rose, defeating death, my father now walks in newness of life with Christ.

During Lent, I reflect on Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, and the victory of His resurrection. It is in His victory that my hope rests. While I grieve, I also rejoice, knowing that in Christ, death is not the end but the beginning of eternal glory.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the peace and hope You bring through Your death and resurrection. Thank You for the promise of new life. Comfort those who grieve with the assurance of Your presence and the joy of knowing that in You, death is defeated. Amen.

Ken Blount

March 25, 2025 Deuteronomy 30:20 … that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

I was raised in the Catholic faith and Lent was a time of many symbolisms. Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday to witness my faith and remind me that our bodies would one day turn to ashes.

Making small sacrifices during Lent like giving up eating candy and not eating meat on Fridays. Adults made bigger sacrifices like not smoking or drinking alcohol or not eating between meals. These sacrifices were to remind us of all Jesus endured for us.

The Stations of the Cross in most Catholic Churches were the focus of many novenas or prayer sessions. Looking at each station reminds me of these truths after traveling to the Holy Land with friends from PCJH in 2020. Walking along the Via Dolorosa made all that Jesus suffered for us more real to me.

At PCJH we have very intimate services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in community with the Lutheran Church that remind me of the Last Supper with all of us receiving communion around the table and Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, which I always try to attend. Our tour guide Andre Moubarak led us in prayer in the garden and God’s presence was strongly felt.

These experiences remind me that I need to continue to make time for meditation and to seek quiet time to listen for God’s voice.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I want to be closer to You each day especially during this season of Lent when I am reminded of all the sacrifices You made for each of us, the greatest being Your death on the cross and the miracle of Your Resurrection. Thank You for all You do for us. Amen.

Irene Lund

March 26, 2025 Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This psalm is a deep source of comfort during difficult times and is a reminder of God's steadfast love and care.

Prayer: God, You are trustworthy, and I can rely on You. During my times of need, help me remember that You will always meet my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Amen.

Ponteir Sackrey

March 27, 2025 Acts 4:33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

On Easter morning April 1, 2018, my then 84 year old mother and I arose in the dark and proceeded to Teton Village to gather with a crowd in line to ascend the gondola to Rendezvous Lodge. There we gathered with many strangers in community as we listened to the PCJH band and Pastor Ben give the Easter morning sermon. It is a special memorable service made even more so due to the fact that the mountain is not open every Easter. On that particular morning the sky did brighten upon the end of the sermon and upon the celebration of a new Easter dawn.

We are blessed on Christmas morning with the news of Jesus’ birth and later blessed with His example of how to live, blessed with His instruction of how to love one another, blessed by His grace and forgiveness, blessed by the offer of salvation and on Easter morning we are blessed to feel refreshed and blessed with the promise of eternal life. We know we can face each day because our Savior lives!

Prayer: Lord be with me as I face this day. Thank You for the Holy Spirit guiding me to walk as You would walk with others. Thank You so much for Your many blessings.

Amen.

Judy Kaelber

March 28, 2025 Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Additional reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 I moved to Jackson Hole because of its vast landscape and majestic wildlife, but I stayed and made it home because of the people. And its people are the greatest encouragement in my faith.

Reading the Bible, fasting, praying, lifting our voices in song, serving, enjoying His creation—all of these are ways we can commune with and worship Christ. However, in this season of faith, I feel closest to God in times of fellowship with my sisters and brothers. This may be an intentional time of study and prayer, or a social gathering over a meal or football game. In these spaces, we are able to confess our doubts, express our dreams, share laughs, and offer encouraging words, and in doing so I believe we glorify God. We are not only doing what he created us for, but we are also mirroring what Christ does for us, accompanying and comforting.

I’ll admit there are many forms of worship I listed above that are disciplines I need to develop. Maybe not coincidentally, I sometimes feel quite lackluster in my faith. That being said, when I gather with friends, fellow followers of Christ, I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

My cup is filled, and my faith is reinvigorated.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for those in my life who accompany and comfort me. Help me to bless others through friendship, and may my fellowship be glorifying to You. Amen.

Gannon Castle

March 29, 2025 Jesus, quoted in Luke 6:37-38 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

There are people at school who are very irritating: One boy always makes loud noises when we are in the library.

One girl always tells others whatever I tell her. There is a girl who calls out “Stranger Danger!” when I come over to play with her on the playground. We call a few Second Graders the “Roly Poly Killers” because they smash roly poly bugs, on purpose, at recess.

This Bible passage is telling us not to judge them.

It’s true that the boy making noises might just want people to laugh. The tattletale girl might not know that what she is doing is wrong and might be trying to make friends. The girl who excludes me from playing with her on the playground might not realize she hurts my feelings. The Roly Poly Killers are mean, but maybe they don’t realize it.

We can’t know really what is in their hearts. Only God knows. We will try to stop thinking they are irritating and mean.

The Bible passage says that we should forgive them, and we will be forgiven. We probably do things that bother them, and we want to be forgiven. It is easier to imagine being friends with them if I am forgiving and not judging them. Amen.

Eliana and Katherine Bevash, Youth

March 30, 2025 Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Preparing for this devotion, my mind went immediately back to an experience when I was 11 or 12 of a family Easter weekend in California’s gold country. My “wilderness” experiences to date had been limited to many days at the Coyote Point Nature Museum. For Easter that year we were in a cabin at the edge of a meadow.

When we arose Easter morn, the first words my mother uttered were “listen to the sheep”.

Now, ironically “listen to the sheep” seems more appropriate for the celebration of Advent, awaiting and preparing for the birth of our Lord Jesus. So, my mind has been occupied ever since that memory emerged: is there meaning to celebrating the Lenten season with Advent a memory.

From Jesus’s birth until his last days, He was revered, taken care of, celebrated. Fast forward to a triumphal and grand entry into Jerusalem. He was loved by the masses.

In really a matter of hours, those who had previously shouted: “blessed is the king”, took up a very different chant: “crucify him”.

Ordinary people, exhibiting cowardice, had followed Jesus and watched him die. Seeing the resurrected Jesus, according to Luke: “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy”. CAN WE WORSHIP HIM AS OUR RESURRECTED LORD and SAVIOR? Prayer: Lord, help me prepare to meet Jesus face-to-face.

Help me to realize that an unforgiving heart is an unforgiven heart. Help me to remember that the birth – death – resurrection of Your Son is Your love for us. Amen.

Steve Iobst

March 31, 2025 Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.

When life is going smoothly, or well, there is the tendency to use the personal pronoun, “I”. I can certainly attest to that, such as, “I studied hard, or I worked hard, and look at how great my life is.” We can see ourselves as selfsufficient, and when we do, it is difficult to take a critical look inside and acknowledge our sins. It is only through submission, surrender, humility that we can truly confess and thereby recognize that it is God who equips us to use the gifts and talents which He gave us.

I can remember a time in my life when my world was turned upside down and I didn’t know how I would get through. Do you see the “I” in there? It was only when I submitted and surrendered that I asked God to take my burden, give me strength, and help me. He sent angels in the form of competent and caring professionals, family, and friends. When I gave it to God, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. As Pastor Tim Keller once said, “As many have learned and later taught, you don’t realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Prayer: Lord, in all my ways may I seek You first in submission and surrender. Amen.

Melanie Fischel

April 1, 2025 Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. The first time I legitimately thanked God was when I was maybe 14 or 15 years old. I had traditionally gone to a summer camp in Iowa, but they were full, and so my father, always a problem solver, had found this a small Christian mountaineering camp in Idaho. My brother and I had already climbed dozens of Peaks by this point, so we were fairly confident in our own abilities. We never thought to question the abilities of our counselors. Less than a week later, we found ourselves on the side of an open mountain, in the middle of a lightning storm, at which point our counselors directed us to take shelter under a tree. Shortly afterwards, they let us down a scree field, perilously close to the edge of collapse. It was at this point, sometime between cursing my parents and writing my will on a passing stone, that my first authentic prayer sprung unbidden to my lips. And when, eventually, we did in fact survive, then came the second. Life is always a thing of contrasts. Sometimes, in order to appreciate the beauty of life, we must stand and face the fear of death. I may not appreciate that summer camp, but I will always appreciate the new respect for life that has come as a result of it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me always to turn to You in prayer and experience Your peace. Amen.

Gannett Swan

April 2, 2025 Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

The sixth commandment, thou shalt not murder, measures the value of life. Yet, our sin starts small. Jesus, at the Sermon on the Mount, warned us against harboring anger or any contemptuous attitude that devalues another person.

Jesus links murder with hatred.

‘Raca’ (Aramaic Reqa), is a put-down expression insinuating a person’s stupidity or inferiority. Murder starts with a dislike, a hostility, or with a growing grudge. Is there any hate in our heart? All people are image bearers made

by God yet, as people of faith, we get to live in the Kingdom of God, baptized with the Holy Spirit. So, we must choose to take captive our thoughts, evaluate what is motivating our heart, and repent. This requires stillness with God. In this Lenten season, let’s have focused hearts. Be soft and receptive. Ask the Lord, “Who do I need to forgive?”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, humbly I come to be reconciled with You. I surrender my bitterness by choosing to forgive (list of names/events). Create in me a pure heart. Fill me with God’s mercy so I may pour out to others a true peace that passes all understanding. Amen.

Erin Leininger Why did Jesus warn against saying the word raca in Matthew 5:22? (n.d.). Retrieved December 20, 2024, from https://www.gotquestions.org/raca.html

April 3, 2025 Mark 1:41-42 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

A relatively obscure singer songwriter from Nashville named Gray Robinson wrote and performs a song called “Day with Jesus.” It describes the imaginary scenario of having the opportunity to spend a day with Jesus—what activities you would do, what subjects you would talk about, and what questions you would ask. As intriguing as the idea is, the lyrics are relatively unremarkable, except for one very powerful line; the kind that if it were written in a book, it would jump off the page: “But most of all I wonder if he’d say I made him proud.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to live the kind of life that follows the teachings of Jesus. Help me to be compassionate when others are not, to be kind and patient when others are quick to judge. Bestow upon me the hope that when my days on earth are few, that I might look back with the belief that—just maybe—I would have made Jesus proud.

Amen.

John Scott

April 4, 2025 Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.

I was not looking for another job. None the less every time I transferred a patient from the Intensive Care Unit to the Primary Care Unit, I was intrigued by the Oncology Unit when I passed it by. The beautiful parquet floor, people in colorful head scarves, laughing and with music playing! It drew me in. But why would I want to change specialties in midlife? I could think of all kinds of reasons to stay where I was comfortable after twenty-five years as a critical care nurse. A friend encouraged me to observe for part of a shift and I was hooked. The emotional and intellectual challenges of Oncology were daunting. I found myself praying more than I ever had in my life, to allay my anxieties about knowing enough, giving enough and being enough to help my patients. And each time I prayed I felt that unexplainable peace in my heart that helped me get through whatever I was doing that day. The seventeen years in which I cared for Oncology patients were a blessing and made possible with prayer.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for always being there to listen to our prayers and giving us an unexplainable peace in our hearts. Amen.

Carol Poole

April 5, 2025 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you Three of us huddled around a table at Picnic for coffee, the topic turned to “doing it all” as mamas with jobs. “If only there were 36 hours in a day, I could get it all done!” one woman lamented. “I know, right?!” I chimed in. “There just aren’t enough hours in a day to accomplish it all,” a third said. We all nodded and sipped.

Juggling the daily demands of jobs and showing up as mothers had us all feeling defeated. But, something about the conversation, and my swift agreement with that notion that, “there is never enough time,” didn’t sit quite right in my soul.

The next morning, I asked The Lord about this in my quiet time before my household arose. I asked Him about this idea of “not enough time” and being “stretched so thin.”

The Holy Spirit pinged by heart, and I promptly scribbled down His truth: “Deb, I will never assign an overload.”

I was stopped in my tracks. He is such a Good Father. He would never ask more of me than I could accomplish peacefully in a day! It was ME, Deb Keenan, who was assigning too much to my schedule Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for assuming You under-blessed me with time. No: You are perfect in all of Your ways, and You are far from stingy with Your provision for me.

Convince me to move at “the pace of grace” today. Diligent, not rushed, with Your priorities reflected in how I use the hours You give me. In Christ's Name, Amen.

Deb Keenan

April 6, 2025 Mathew 6:34 So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

I have learned to trust in the Lord's plan by following this verse, living one day at a time, and trying to give all my worries about the past and future to God. I learned this through my experience of moving to Jackson and not understanding why God was doing what he was doing. But looking back, I wasn’t living in the moment. I was living on the thought of what my life could’ve been if I didn’t move away from what I knew as my home, and it really restricted me and the Lord's relationship.

Now I try to live not for tomorrow, but for today and the memories I’m making instead of focusing on past ones.

Prayer: I pray You lift anyone’s worries about futures, or pasts, and You bring them peace and comfort about living one day at a time. Amen.

Vivienne Mattheis, Youth

April 7, 2025 At the foot of the cross I kneel And weep As His blood Drips, drips, drips Covering my sins Slowly I walk to the tomb The darkness Hides my despair Grieving, Unbelieving, Praying The tomb, the tomb Is empty The dawn is breaking Confusion Where, Why, Who Would steal him away My Spirit awakens A Presence is here Radiant, Glorious, Ethereal Is this the Christ I cannot keep it to myself Go Tell the Good News Run, Run, Run I shout to all Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna He is Risen, He is Risen, He is Risen The earth and all the people respond He is Risen Indeed, He is Risen Indeed, He is Risen Indeed

HALLELUJAH!

Caryn Haman

April 8, 2025 Colossians 1:28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. ( NLT) January 11, 2021, I was talking with one of my best friends, reflecting on my life and how I viewed my relationship with God. I was not happy with many outcomes in my life.

I agonized for days to discern the problem. I checked all the “right” boxes and still concluded that I was just unfulfilled and that I had taken the perfunctory route in my life. This was a very sad conclusion. I felt God and the Holy Spirt within me, and knew that I had to change my life, and start listening and acting, instead of telling and waiting. Then the words of Jack Hooper jumped into my mind, “Church is outside the front doors of the Church. Go and show others what it is like to walk with Jesus every moment of your life”. “Go and make disciples by treating people like they were Jesus”. Since then, I have followed those basic philosophies of life. It has not been easy, but with God not everything is easy. It is not about me, it is about how to share Jesus’s message with all the wisdom God has given us.

If you were called into a meeting with God, and it was your responsibility to introduce the people in your life to him, what would you say? What would be the important aspects you would want God to know as you presented them to him? If you had a lifetime to prepare for this meeting, how would you spend your life? To what would you devote your time each day?

Prayer: God, let me never cover up my faith. Continue to change my life by Your Spirt and empower me to be bold in the way that I live out my commitment to You. Amen.

Brad Herman

April 9, 2025 Psalm 107:1 Oh! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His love endures forever.

Richly blessed and highly favored – beloved children of the Most High – that’s who we are! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

This evening I’ve been in the cowbarn with my son and two grandkids. We spend a lot of very blessed time here.

Eli and Paisley are the 3rd generation of our family that care for their 4-H steers in this most blessed barn. I and my three sisters were the 1st generation. This evening our two steers, Panda and Sunshine , come from the snowy barnyard into their snug straw bedded pens. The kids feed them their grain and hay and groom – comb, comb their shiny coats. These are show steers that are hauled to competitions, their last show in the Teton County Fair in July. John and I are helpers and coaches. We love our kids and livestock, our shared work and time together.

Richly blessed and highly favored.

OH! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! As we leave the barn it is such a beautiful evening. Nearby, my heifers eat their hay off the clean, fresh snow. For the evening light is amazing, and I marvel at the colors the Lord has created as the distant snow-covered Terrace Mountain is so beautifully illuminated. Lord, thank You for Your amazing creation, and thank You for giving us eyes to see.

Prayer: Lord – You are good! Open my eyes. I want to see Jesus. Renew a right Spirit within me – and, Thank You! Chris Young

April 10, 2025 John 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

My favorite metaphor in the Bible is “living water”, as it resonates with me more than any other in my walk with the Lord. I am constantly in awe of the mightiness of God’s hand in the glorious creation that surrounds us here. Given the choice, I prefer to spend my time in nature hiking or flyfishing, where I am consistently captivated by the power of water.

There are more than eight references in scripture to the salvation and spiritual sustenance that Jesus provides through “living water”, but it’s the word living that speaks to me. It’s the movement of water that captures my imagination, the way that it flows around or over obstacles, or even carries them downstream. The bigger the obstacle, the more turbulent the water can become, but it will eventually find a way to keep going. Water shapes the landscape, moving the Earth with it, even cutting mighty canyons. A relationship with God can transform our lives in much the same way.

God’s presence and His word is “living water” for us. It sustains us, and if we put our trust in Him, He will always find a way over, around, or through the difficulties we face in life.

Sometimes the waters of life flow smoothly and at others they are roaring rapids, but God is with us and will carry us to a place of peace and calm. We only must remain in the boat of relationship with Him, praying, studying His word, and sharing His love with others.

Prayer – Loving God, thank You for the ever-present reminder of Your presence, Your love, and Your almighty power in the flowing waters of creation. May we drink of Your living water with praise and thanks and may it flow from us to Your glory. Amen.

Susan Conner Talermo

April 11, 2025 Matthew 20:22 But Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” The sons answered, “Yes, we can.”

As we approach the season of lent, can you understand the mindset of Christ’s disciples before he suffered and was killed? We know that they believed Jesus was the Messiah, but they did not grasp what he must go through to fulfill scripture and be a sacrifice for the sins of us all. None of the Jews did.

We can reflect on what it is to be a disciple this side of the resurrection of Jesus Christ through the apostle Paul. What an amazing part of God‘s perfect plan that he came on board to know Jesus was the Messiah when he did. The fervor with which he shared the good news and his tenacity during the time of Roman occupation and persecution by the Jewish leaders is inspirational. It all happened through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What an amazing part of God‘s plan that we too know Jesus is the Messiah! As disciples of Christ, we too are called to share the good news, and we have the Holy Spirit available to us!

Heavenly Father, I pray that as the world reflects on Easter and the risen Jesus, we have the courage to share the truth about Christ no matter the cost to us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Diane McGee

April 12, 2025 and April 13, 2025 Luke 23:41 Today you will be with me in Paradise.

Do you ever play the game in an airport where you look at a person and based on the clues they present; you guess all about their life story? Some clues are pretty obvious. If he is wearing a dirty ten-gallon hat, a big belt buckle, faded Levis, and old boots, he is probably a real rancher.

If he is wearing a brand new expensive clean ten-gallon hat, a shiny belt buckle, fancy pants and genuine alligator boots he is probably a drug store cowboy (All hat and no cattle).

We then go from there and guess all kinds of things about their life. We have no way of knowing the real story of each person, but each person has HIS STORY. What would the game look like if we played it with the criminal on the cross?

Things we can guess that are probably true: 1. He is not having a very good day.

2. He broke some laws and upset some Romans along the way (Commentators think he might have been a rebel in Barabbas’s gang) 3. A place in the kingdom of the guy on the cross next to him, whatever that means, is better than the position he is in right now. Did he know who Jesus was? Had he heard him somewhere during the previous two years? Or was he just reading the sign over Jesus’s head. KING OF THE JEWS” He might have thought to himself “If he is a King, there has got to be a kingdom in there somewhere.”

So, he reaches out. He is grasping for anything better. He is running out of options. Then he repents of sorts. “We are punished justly, for we are getting what we deserve.”

Which he follows with a plea for mercy. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

Then he hits the LOTTO. Jesus’s answer to him is Amazing, Inspirational, Universally and Eternally Comforting, Grace-filled and Immediate. Nothing is demanded. No new members class, no questions, Nothing.

Jesus said, “I tell you truth. Today you will be with me in Paradise. WOW His future just became wonderfully bright.

And this is something we do know, which all of history can see, that minutes before his death after a life of crime, the criminal asked Jesus to be his friend and Jesus without hesitation said YES. Jesus is always asking the World to be his friend regardless of the circumstances. That should give comfort to Christians and to generations of believers worrying about their family and friends who are not yet a friend of Jesus.

And this is the takeaway for us from the story. It is never too late for anyone to become a friend of Jesus. So, we should never stop working, talking, and praying for everyone we know who would benefit from a friendship with Jesus. Again, it is never too late.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for Your life, death, resurrection, and readily available friendship. Amen.

Warren Van Genderen