Dear Warren Family,

I wondered how we could all do Lent together as we approached Lent. Amid my prayerful discernment, I was reminded of our anniversary theme “SPIRITUAL ACTION: BEING DOERS OF THE WORD,” The idea of a corporate fast arose. And thus, I invite all of you to participate in a Lenten Daniel Fast.

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent is a time of self-examination and reflection on one’s life that leads to repentance and revival, fasting for greater focus on one’s relationship with God, and preparation for the coming of Easter.

The Daniel Fast is based on the dietary restrictions that Daniel and his companions followed, noted in Daniel 1:12 and 10:2-3. Since this is our first time doing this together, and because the diet can be intense, we will be doing a variation of the fast with fitness concepts thrown in. Several internet references to Daniel Fast provide greater detail for those unfamiliar.

First, the guidelines.
1. We will begin on Monday, February 27, and fast until April 7, Good Friday.
2. We will take breaks from fasting on Sundays and do our fasting every Monday to Saturday.
3. We will spend intentional time in prayer around the theme of “being doers of the word.”
4. We will spend time reading through a book of the Bible; a good one may be the book of James.
5. We will be kind to ourselves.
6. We will not compete.
7. We will eat at our regular meal times.
8. We will increase our water intake.

Second, our dietary guidelines (from February 27 to April 7)
1. We will increase our fruit and vegetable intake.
2. We will reduce the amount of red meat we eat or cut out red meat.
3. We will substitute another protein if we cut out red meat. Fish and chicken are suitable substitutes.
4. We will reduce or cut out alcohol intake and drink more water. We will also reduce or cut our sugary drinks – sodas and juices high in sugar.
5. We will reduce our sugar intake; substitutes such as honey will do. Skip the desire for candy, cookies, cake, etc.

Third, our other guidelines (from February 27 to April 7)
1. We will reduce the use of electronics-tv, online games, computer use, Facebook, Instagram, etc
2. We will add exercise or increase the amount of activity we get (as much as is medically possible). 15 to 30 minutes a day, three to four days a week, is recommended. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous; walking is a good form of exercise.

Fourth, but importantly, we will have a weekly focus.

Week 1 – Be kind to yourself – self-affirmations, treat yourself to something special

Week 2 – Be kind to someone else – say or do something kind for someone outside your circle.

Week 3 – Be positive and avoid negativity.

Week 4 – Express gratitude, and avoid complaining. Recall how God and others have been good to
you. Celebrate what you recall.

Week 5 – Volunteer at Church this week; do something to help the church or someone there.

Week 6 – Be thrifty this week. Avoid making frivolous purchases.

It is my prayer that we will together come out of the other side of Lent, more ready and willing to do the Lord’s will.

Grace and peace!

Pastor K

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 1

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 Mark 1:13 NKJ

 And He was there in the wilderness for 40 days, tempted by Satan and was with the wild beasts and the angels ministered to Him.

Ash Wednesday will be here in three short days. Are you ready for a season of fasting?

To be honest even mentioning the word fasting makes me hungry! I have tried many times with much difficulty. However I try harder during Lent.  Withholding or denying myself definitely brings me closer to GOD. I try to feast on Him!

Fasting does not only include food. Fasting from media and entertainment, habits and comforts are also effective.

Do you have cravings? I do!

Do you have things that would be liberating to leave behind? We all do!

40 days can lead to a lifetime!  What’s really hard to give up?

I used to pick yogurt (which I dislike) as a joke.

What is Jesus asking of me? Repentance, self-sacrifice and helping the poor. Working on each one every day of Lent, encourages, changes and challenges me throughout the year. All for the better.  Angels please minister to me, God’s grace!

Father GOD help us to understand the difference between setbacks and failure.  We all have problems and difficulties to face.  It’s how we respond to these challenges that determines our success.  Help us to persevere in the face of opposition and not give up on our goals.

Philippians 4:13 NIV  –  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength

Amen

Lisa K. Williams

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 2

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2 Corinthians 2:14 says Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

            Right before the November 2016 election a young girl sent a picture of herself and a group of young people meeting the president, along with a personal letter to the current president of the US telling him about the day she met him and her concerns about the future.

            On January 20^th the day of the Inauguration of the new US president, the young girl probably ten or eleven years old received a response. Reading the letter reminds me when we leave everything in God’s Hand we will see God’s Hand in everything.

            So the young girl’s Dad brought in the mail and presented it to his daughter. I have something for you Journey. What is it Dad? Open it he says, it’s for you. As she opened the large yellow mailing envelope, she smiled as she found a picture of a black and white dog, some children’s worksheets, a picture of the United States first family and an 8 x 10 glossy of the President with his signature and a letter. Beaming with joy she realized it was from the White House. Read it Dad said.

Dear Journey,

Thank you for writing. Young people like you will play an important role in charting our country’s course. I’m glad you took the time to reach out. One election does not change who we are as people. Our future will be shaped by our generation’s ideas and willingness to dream big. I encourage you to get involved in causes you care about because you have the ability to make a real and lasting difference.

Don’t ever forget ours is a nation where with hard work all things are possible. I hope you’ll stay engaged and keep speaking out in defense of others. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me.

Young people like you are an important part of America’s future and whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation, will depend on your generation’s efforts to establish a more perfect union. I want you to know how much young people like you inspire me and how much I believe in you. With tears she read the last line of the letter; Can’t wait to see things you will accomplish.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

            Dad asked, “How do you feel?” Holding back tears and with a quivering voice she responded, that’s so cool. Thank you.  I didn’t think he was going to write back.

It is important to remember that God wins His greatest victories through apparent defeats. And very often the enemy seems to triumph for a season, and God allows it. But then He comes in and upsets the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, in Psalms 146:9, frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Consequently, He gives us a much greater victory than we would have known had He not allowed the enemy seemingly to triumph in the first place.

            Little Journey was reminded as are we if there is a great trial in your life today, do not acknowledge defeat. As it is written, in Romans 8:37, let us continue by faith to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you “more than conquerors,” and a glorious victory will soon be apparent. May we learn that in the difficult places God takes us, He is giving us opportunities to exercise our faith in Him that will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His name. 

Author Unknown

Alecia Myers

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 3

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Sometimes it Takes More than Praise

2nd  Samuel 1-8

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.  He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.  

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart   with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.  David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.  The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

1.     Even when we have the best intentions we still have to consult God. We still should be saying, “God, order my steps”.

2.     Although David intentions where good if he would have consulted God first Uzzah would not have died as he did. (Uzzah translated means strength) but God gave instructions on how the ark should be carried what the material should be used to carry the ark and who should be leading it. God gives us instructions but we often time don’t take the time to hear them.

3.     Our salvation cost something. Taking God’s grace for granted does not allow us to walk in sin.

4.     20 years before David became king, with writing Psalm 23 and all that he had experienced you would have thought he knew enough to speak with the One who was beaten hung and died for ours sins before he would have decided to move the ark. Our salvation cost something, our praise should be a reflection of the life we live on the outside not just when I am in church or when you read this. I KNOW WE GET EXCITED WHEN EASTER COMES AND YOU HEAR THE PASTOR SAY ON THE 3rd  DAY HE AROSE (AMEN) but let us be mindful that if we praise God with all of our hearts on Sunday let us praise God all the time, consult and commune with him all the time. Let us not move until he says move because sometimes we may be the only Bible someone might see.

Keith Brown

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 4

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If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:13

I was asked to prepare this devotional after sharing some thoughts with a true believer. I have struggled with this request because expressing myself in writing has been a life- long struggle.  I accepted this challenge to find peace.  I decided to use my birth date to search for a biblical reference.  The first verse I found was in the chapter of Luke.  I read the verse but did not feel connected to it.  I attempted to find another verse, but I quickly returned to the first selection. Why?  What pulled me back to this verse?  It was the phrase “…ask him”.

I must admit that I have not always believed that I have the right to ask for anything.  I also admit that at times I was not sure what things I should ask for.  There have been times in my life when things have been so bad that I would cry out and ask for the pain to go away, but I believe there is a greater need to “ask him”.  After accepting the invitation to write this devotional, I have increased my understanding of what the Holy Spirit represents and offers to me. I have learned that when I “ask him” I am preparing to receive a few things: guidance, conviction, and truth.

I am a firm believer that I am a child of God.  I also admit that God knows me better than I know myself.  God has read my heart at every turn. Even during the times when all I could do is scream- God knows that I am asking for help.  I pray that after meditating on this verse that I learn to open my mouth to ask him for good gifts. To ask for discernment, mercy, and transformation. I ask him now for forgiveness that I have not trusted his faith and belief in me. I thank him that he provides me all that I need even when I do not ask.  Amen

Lisa McCray

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 5

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But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

But if we have food and Clothing, we will be content with that.

Timothy 6-6:8

There is a strong correlation between wealth and happiness, “Rich people and rich nations are happier than their poor counterparts.” At the same time money’s impact on happiness isn’t a large as it may seem. If you have clothes to wear, food to eat, and a roof over your head, increased disposable income has just a small influence on your sense of well-being. Money can buy happiness, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. There’s also a real concern with that, increased income can make you miserable, if your spending habits grow with your income. If you have nothing, buying things contribute to one’s happiness. One will be happier with the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. After the basic needs are taken care of, you begin to spend on comforts: a chair to sit in, a pillow to sleep on, a second pair of pants. These purchases, too, bring increased fulfillment. They make you happy, but not as happy as the items that satisfied your survival needs. Eventually your spending extends from comforts to outright luxuries. You move from a small apartment to a home in the suburbs, and you have an entire wardrobe of clothing. You drink hot chocolate on winter evenings, sit on a new sofa, and have a fleet of cars. These things are more than comforts—they’re luxuries, and they make you happy. Beyond the peak, stuff starts to take control of your life. Buying a sofa made you happy, so you buy recliners to match. Your vehicle collection grows from 2 cars to 6 cars, and you drink expensive hot chocolate made from Peruvian cocoa beans. Soon your house is so full of stuff that you must buy a bigger home—and rent a storage unit. But none of this makes you any happier. In fact, all your things become a burden. Rather than adding to your fulfillment, buying new stuff detracts from it.

Lord, help me understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world

Thank you, Lord. Amen

Marcus Stuckey

Sunday, March19, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 6

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They Talked about Jesus

⁹ 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 Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

–Matthew 21:9

²² Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 

²³ Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

–Mathew 27:22-23

Long before I studied psychology in a college classroom, I had a love for the social science– at a very young age. To be considered “scientific,” anyone who ventures to use the theoretical tenants associated with any of the seven major schools of thought must also agree to following step by step logical processes to arrive at the answer as to “why” some behavior has taken place. To me psychology makes sense, as it tries to make sense, of why something does or doesn’t make sense.

Imagine my discomfort when I had to meet the nefarious cousin of psychology– politics. Politics makes absolutely no sense to me. Although I know that there is a discipline aptly named political science, my brain sees no logic in how political behaviors and interactions take place. Political actions are a blind spot that I must admit that I have, and an area that I consistently work to develop as a life-long learner.

I guess that is I why I became so confused by a response that my mother had given me one day when I told her that students at my high school had been talking badly about me simply because of where I decided to eat lunch. She looked at me with a seriousness in her eye that only she could communicate,

“Baby they talked about Jesus! The only thing you can do is control what you can control and keep pushin?”

Her answer, though absolutely true, didn’t seem to be enough to satisfy me back then. Did she realize or appreciate that I consciously mixed up my seating arrangements so that I could diversify my interactions during the week? Some days I sat at the “hockey table” with my friends from homeroom. Other days I enjoyed sharing snacks and stories at the “football table” where the majority of the minority students hosted lunch. Psychologically, I was most fond of eating with the community of scholars (at “the nerd table”) and tried to schedule my visits to that community at least twice a week. At this table, I had the chance to make high school level hypothesis that could be tested/challenged with likeminded scholars. I thought I was living my best life! I had the best of all worlds. I had worked it out so I might be a traveling Switzerland. After all of the hard work I put into trying to fit in everywhere, I found out that at least one or two members of each table talked about me during my absence from their respective tables. Then, my mom hit me with the “They talked about Jesus!”

It was a mess. Psychologically it made sense for me to diversify experiences to reach my fullest potential; but politically, I was a pariah who needed to make a choice about which group I would finally decide was my own. See why I don’t like politics? How could I be both an outsider AND someone who would be forced to decide where I would enjoy arguably the most stress-free period of the day? As you reflect on this devotion, please allow yourself to remember the importance of the political arena for a developing teenage black male. This was an extremely important decision!

I decided to finally stop moving and chose a permanent table. I stuck with the nerds—that was the most logical fit for me. Now that I am older, I wish that determining where to eat lunch were the extent of the important decisions I have to make on a daily basis. To survive, I had to take my mother’s advice and make it relevant to own: One day the world might hate us, the next day it might love us, but on both days, We Were Saved– because of his blood! Amen?

Thank God for Jesus! I am so glad that he didn’t’ allow the politics of his time to impede him from his mission to provide us with salvation and everlasting life! As we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by our savior during this Lenten season, let us not forget to endure through our daily struggles until we reach our ultimate goals—both in this life and the next.

Prayer

Lord, grant me: The serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and (most importantly) the WISDOM to know the difference

Lord thank you for being an ever-present example of what it means to mission driven, goal oriented, results based, and loving every step of the way. May it be your will that we push through the negativity of nay-sayers as we work to become who you will have us to be. May your will always be done.  In the matchless and wonderous name of Jesus.

Amen.

Question They talked about Jesus!! What they had to say was sometimes good, most times bad, but it never stopped him from achieving his mission. How will you respond when they talk about YOU?

Jay Pendleton

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Warren UMC Lenten Devotional 2023

Week 7

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Communicating through the help of God

Romans 12:17-21

¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1. My prayer is that we learn to stabilize our emotions and that we combat through communicating and understanding with the help of God

2. Listen – to what is being said, not the words but the heart of who is speaking

3. Look – at the circumstances

4. Learn – through studying the word of God and build that relationship.

5. Leap – into action as directed by the words of the Lord.

Keith Brown

Sunday, April 2, 2023