Category Archives: Devotional

Devotional

Lifelong learning

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Luke 2:41-52


Prayer for the day:
Our lives are full of new opportunities and change, O God. We give you thanks, the source of all abiding knowledge. Through Word and Spirit, you enlighten our minds and transform our hearts. Bless us with a faith that trusts your promises. Amen.

Question for reflection:
What have you learned in adulthood that has enriched your personal or vocational growth? What learnings have deepened your faith that you have shared with others in an encouraging way?

 

~ Stan Dueck – Director, Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Devotional

Soul rest

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Matthew 11:28-30


Prayer for the day:
Lord, I trust my mind, body, and spirit to you. You are the source of grace and bring peace to my soul. Thank you.

Question for reflection:
Tired? Stressed? Burned out? What are ways you connect with the unforced rhythms of grace to nurture body, mind and soul?

 

~ Stan Dueck – Director, Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Eschewing obfuscations

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Luke 10:38-42


Prayer for the day:
Holy Spirit, help us to hold our daily plans and agenda lightly, so that we can quickly toss it aside when you lead us to.

Question for reflection:
Can you think of a recent time when you felt a nudge to help someone? How did you react to that nudge and how did it feel?

 

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Communal fasting and healing

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Acts 13:1-3; 14:19-23


Prayer for the day:
God, help us to anticipate your Spirit’s presence with us, in the ordinary and the unusual.

Question for reflection:
When have you experienced God’s presence most tangibly in your life? What were the circumstances?

 

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

A personal testimony

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Matthew 9:14-17


Prayer for the day:
Jesus, give us the courage to try new spiritual practices and help us to offer ourselves plenty of grace along the journey.

Question for reflection:
Have you ever experimented with fasting? If so, what was your experience like? Would you give it another try?

 

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

The purpose of piety

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Matthew 6:16-17


Prayer for the day:
O God, give us a desire for you alone. Help us to assess our worth based only on what you think of us.

Question for reflection:
What spiritual practices do you do most regularly? What motivates you to practice them?

 

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Devotional

Why Jesus fasted

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Matthew 4:1-7

Prayer for the day:
Dear God, help us to take time for prayer so that we have the strength we need to follow you through whatever life brings.

Question for reflection:
In what area of your life are you experiencing temptation? Would you be willing to face your temptation by trying a short period of prayer and fasting, and see what God will do?

 

~ Tim Heishman, National Youth Conference Coordinator

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Devotional

Whenever you fast

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Isaiah 58:1-9; Matthew 6:16-18


Prayer for the day:
Be with us, Holy Wisdom, as we seek to learn the patterns of living as disciples of Jesus. Take from us the desire to boast of the ways we seek to be closer to you.


Question for reflection:
Are you fasting from a particular thing this Lent? Why/why not? What questions does this scripture ask of you and your fast?

 

~ Becky Ullom-Naugle, Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Trailer park wisdom

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Luke 21:1-4

Prayer for the day:

Jesus, we lose perspective, and for this we ask forgiveness. Sometimes we choose ignorance, but more often we are just lazy. Help us to avoid the temptation of justifying our selfishness. Help us to be humble as we walk with you and with others

Question for reflection:

Reflect on a time when someone with less than you was more grateful than you. What did the situation help you to understand about the Gospel of Good News? What questions did the situation leave in your heart?

~ Becky Ullom-Naugle, Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

No time to be alone

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LENT_real_rest_FRONTPAGELuke 22:39-46

Prayer for the day:

For our frailness and for our strength, which are so intertwined, we give you thanks, Great Comforter. Work through us to touch the lives of others, even when we are completely unaware of your movement. Help us to help each other, Lord.

Question for reflection:

Think of a time when someone unknowingly said just the thing you didn’t know you needed to hear. What did that feel like? Once you became more aware of the burden you were carrying/your own humanity, was Jesus present to you in that moment? What did that feel like?

~ Becky Ullom-Naugle, Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.