Find the 2020 Lenten Devotional Posts here.

…that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. Luke 24:7 It fills my heart with love as I look at this picture of my mom and son placing flowers on the cross Easter morning. I had been coming with my parents...

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5 Hope keeps us going. A life without hope lacks drive and willpower.  “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” This simply worded statement is...

I go to prepare a place for you. John 14: 2 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”  I cannot read those words without hearing the sound of them spoken by my father's lilting baritone...

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.Luke 24:30 A table is a place where family, friends, neighbors, and guests are invited to gather. My family always gathers at the dining table and shares meals. A lot of...

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!Psalms 66:1 JOY! Does anyone else find it challenging to find joy in your everyday life? I’ll admit that it is something I struggle with – once the alarm goes off in the morning, I am running a day long race, mentally checking...

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”Luke 23:20-21 Pontius Pilate wanted to release Jesus because he had found no wrong committed by Him.  However, he was then pressured by public opinion from...

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.Job 8:21 This week we reflect on Jesus’ walk to the cross, his suffering and death, and ultimate resurrection.  It is a week filled with extreme opposites.  Just days after crowds...

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the...

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet...

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. Genesis 2:8 Have you ever planted a garden?  Maybe your idea of gardening is one indoor plant.  An entire vegetable garden or one small plant, it takes nurturing to keep it alive, healthy, and...

Of the blue, purple, and crimson yarns they made finely worked vestments, for ministering in the holy place. Exodus 39:1 I was familiar with the significance of the use of purple and blue fabrics in historical settings. Purple being the most expensive and rare dye,...

He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” John 9:11 When faced with difficult decisions, the direction we should take is often blurry like the images...

… according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.Haggai 2:5 In 2007 the Trinity Church Council had a great plan.  To be a more hospitable congregation, to share more information with newcomers, to...

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season.” Change is constant in our lives. Good change. Bad change. God is with us through it all.  For many years, I worked in a large...

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. Luke 23:26 Throughout my years as a Trinity member I have had the opportunity to portray several biblical...

Therefore, it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation.Micah 3:6 I have spent most of my adult life at Trinity training young people to serve as acolytes.  Part of that training includes a discussion of why they do what...

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34 Every time I enter or exit Trinity by way of the Bicentennial Garden and this cross, I lovingly...

Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:33 This scripture, as well as the ones surrounding it, are about praising our Lord Almighty, our Creator; however, I would venture to say...

And now, my children, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Proverbs 7:24 I grew up attending Ingomar UMC near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  In addition to my immediate family attending church there I was also blessed to have my grandparents...

Then about sunset a shout went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!” 1 Kings 22:36 Ahab, the King of Israel was thought to be "more evil than all kings before him."  This particular clash specifically targeted King Ahab so...

Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Matthew 27:22 The high Priest and his followers were threatened by the teachings of Jesus and his growing popularity. In order to preserve...

My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?” Psalms 42:3 Viktor Frankl in his classic work, Man’s Search for Meaning, describes a heart-wrenching yet defining moment upon his arrival at Auschwitz concentration...

He said to me, “Count up for me those who have not yet come, and gather for me the scattered raindrops, and make the withered flowers bloom again for me.2 Esdras 5:36 It’s a very cold day in January as I write this essay. Not spring like in the picture you see with...

It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. Psalm 18:28 Darkness is not usually associated with joy or happiness.  Children are often afraid of the dark.  Many people experience a seasonal depression when the days get shorter and...

Christ crucified…. a social disgrace to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 1:23  In short, the Cross is an irrelevant source of meaning standing in opposition to most things that our daily behavior suggests we really value and believe in....

…there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.”Revelation 11:15 Lent is a time for reflection, repentance and studying the gospel to have a greater...

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 During Lent I portrayed Mary, Mother of James and John.  I deeply felt her loss when her husband, who had been fishing with his sons, ran into the house shouting they’re...

…and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so, Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.Genesis 8:11 When the dove came back to Noah with an olive leaf in its beak, Noah knew that the flood...

Look up to the bare heights,and see! Jeremiah 3:2 I look at this photo and the memory comes back.  March.  A cold, gray, dreary day. My sister loves days like this but I’m solar powered.  I crave the warmth and light of the sun. A wintry rain is...

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:13 While Peter, James and John slept in Gethsemane; Jesus prayed. Jesus said, " Abba, Father, everything is possible for you.  Take this cup from me. Yet not my will, but what you...

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” John 15:1 What better assurance of God’s love than to know that He is the gardener who plants the seeds and tends our growth. When I am in my garden, I feel closer to God than at any other time. It gives me...

The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 God’s sanctuary is wherever we encounter him. It is the place where your heart is.  I was raised at Trinity and my family experienced many...

“…but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” John 4:14 My husband’s parents own a home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They have...

But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”  Luke 18:16   As I walk through the hallways of Trinity with our beloved Trinity Preschool children,...

But get me a musician. And then, while the musician was playing, the power of the Lord came on him. 2 Kings 3:15 In one version of the Bible I found over 800 references to music, musician, song, sing, instruments, and/or specific instruments.  I once read that...

But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees. Daniel 10:10 Today’s scripture verse describes something of an awakening.  The prophet Daniel, left in a state of paralysis by a great vision, was awakened by the touch of a...

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 Rest … it conjures up different images and desires for each of us as we contemplate safe havens and a space where we can take a deep, relaxing breath.  So, what...

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16 There are many Biblical accounts of altars being constructed by people that had journeyed through very trying times. ...

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 We all know how this goes, no one cast a stone including Jesus. Instead Christ sent her away saying, "Go...

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7 I just love this picture.  Here you are able to see the beauty of spring bursting forth within the shadow of the tree.  Amidst shadows, there is...

For 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. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Division, that is what I see in this picture of our church. The division between the light and the dark. The church...

…therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:6 Truth be told, I had to be sold on the idea of our 7:00 AM “Drive through Ashes.”  I don’t mind the time so much (as long as I’ve already had my coffee!), but the imposition of ashes on Ash...

In our staff meeting on February 19, all things Lent was part of the conversation. Preparation for Lent is a tad bit different than prepping for Advent. After the staff meeting, I walked out to the front grounds of Trinity. I was looking for my old friend--a zinc...