Family Dinner & Devos, Feb 25-Mar 3

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  Psalm 63:1

Something Old:  Psalm 63:1-8

Something New:  Luke 13:6-8

1.  The psalmist writes that they long for God, that they earnestly seek God.  The Northumbria Community expresses this earnest seeking through the opening lines of their daily prayer ritual.  The Northumbria Community is a “new” monastic community of men and woman, old and young, married and single, who punctuate their days in rituals of prayer.  The morning prayer includes a call and response that is a reminder to seek God earnestly in every moment of the day.  As you begin your conversation around the dinner table, begin with the words from Northumbria’s Celtic Daily Prayer*: 

Call: Who is it that you seek?

Response: We seek the Lord our God.

Call: Do you seek Him with all your heart?

Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Call: Do you seek Him with all your soul?

Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Call: Do you seek Him with all your mind?

Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Call: Do you seek Him with all your strength?

Response: Amen. Christ, have mercy.

2.  Do you think you seek God earnestly?  Explain your answer.

3.  Luke 13 has a bit of a challenging parable.  What exactly is going on with the fig tree?  How do you think God is represented in this parable – does He want to cut the fig tree down or give it another chance?

4.  Some say this is a parable about the God-of-Second-Chances.  Yet when given a second chance, God doesn’t want us to sit and do nothing.  We are to “bear fruit”.  What do you think it means to “bear fruit?”  How is your life “fruitful”?  You may want to read the apostle Paul’s description of “the fruits of the spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23.

Service

As we think of “bearing fruit” perhaps consider how you can give “fruit” to someone in need.  Maybe you pick fruit from your home and buy fruit and give it someone who needs a day-brightener or to some organization that serves the hungry.  You might also consider supporting the C.R.O.P. Walk for hunger – the Thousand Oaks C.R.O.P. Walk is Sunday, March 3 (beginning and ending at CLU).  You could either walk or give a donation to someone who is walking.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We seek you earnestly.

Our souls thirst for you.

May you reveal yourself to us.

May we see you on this Lenten journey.

We are sorry for the times we are like that fig tree…

            times when we are selfish and self-centered.

We give thanks that you are a God of second chances.

We pray that you will help guide us so that we can bear fruit.

Amen.

*Learn more about the Northumbria Community at their website. 

Family Dinner & Devos, Feb 18-24

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve and only Him.”  Luke 4:8

Something Old:  Deuteronomy 26:5-9

Something New:  Luke 4:1-13

1.  The reading from Deuteronomy does not use the number 40, but it is after 40 years in the wilderness that this passage takes place.  The people remember that God was with them, faithfully, with “an outstretched arm and a mighty hand.”  Describe a time in your life when you felt God’s mighty presence with you… or a time in which you saw that God is faithful to His promises.

2.  In Luke, Jesus is tempted by Satan.  In what ways are you tempted? 

3. Jesus does not give into Satan’s temptations.  Rather, He meets each of Satan’s temptations with a Word from God.  Through this, we can see why it is so important to read and know God’s Word.  Whenever we ourselves are tempted, we can ask, “What does God say?” or “What does the Bible say?”  Lent is a 40-day journey to spend more time in scripture.  How might you do this?  How can you help one another gathered around the table to spend more time knowing God’s Word?

Music

Christian artist Michael Card wrote a set of songs in which he linked Old Testament stories to New Testament stories.  In the song “In the Wilderness,” Card talks about the Exodus journey of wandering in the wilderness for 40 years… and then how Jesus becomes our “exodus” – our way to holy ground.  The prayer is that on the wilderness journey of Lent we will indeed find that Jesus is our way.  You can listen to this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_2-vmj2tBM .  What do you think of the following line from this song:  “Wandering in the wilderness is the best way to be found”?

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you that you are always with us

            with an outstretched arm and a mighty hand.

We thank you that your love endures forever.

Help us to feel that power and love when we are on the journey,

            especially when times are hard.

May we know that we can find strength and guidance in your word.

May your truth always win against any temptations that we face.

We ask for your blessing on this wilderness journey

as we are found in you.

Amen.

Family Dinner & Devos, Feb 11-17

Something Old, Something New

Dear Families,

You and your family are invited on a 40-day journey beginning this week.  We start this Lenten journey by the marking of ashes on our foreheads (on Wed, Feb 13^th) as a symbol that we want to turn away from any wayward journeys and walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.  Our prayer is that the 40-day trek will help deepen your connection to God and that as you make your destination to Easter and resurrection, you will experience even greater joy because of the Lenten journey you made.  We encourage you to leave something “old” behind and pick up something “new.”  How might you do this?

·         Perhaps you leave an “old” bad habit behind and replace it with something “new” like walking instead of lounging, an apple instead of a candy, a praise instead of a complaint, a save instead of a spend, a reaching out to serve instead of an inward focus on self.

·         Perhaps you tweak your “old” morning routine of waking up at 6:30 AM and instead wake up at the “new” time of 6:00 AM and begin your day in an added half hour of prayer.

·         Perhaps you set aside an “old” focus of reading the daily news or a novel and read the “new” Lenten book Enough by Adam Hamilton.  This book has been chosen by Ascension Lutheran Church as the seasonal read and is available in the church office.

Ponder and pray about what “old” thing you will put aside for that “new” thing this Lent.  Consider the question… what “old” and “new” shift will most help me on my faith journey? 

During Lent, we will have two scripture readings each week, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.  We hope you discover how the “Old and New” are connected and how Jesus is the Living Word in all of scripture.  Though there will be two readings, we will continue to have one “Learn-By-Heart” verse.

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:1

Something Old:  Psalm 51:1-12

Something New:  Matthew 6:19-21

·         We begin Lent with the words, “Create in me a pure (or clean) heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  Lent is a time to “turn around” from any wayward ways, to make things “right,” to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, and to quietly pray and ponder and grow… all so that we may experience even deeper resurrection-new life-Easter joy!  As a family, consider what “old-new” shift you could make to help create in you a clean heart and right spirit…

·         As you read these two scripture passages, what connections do you find in them?

·         In Psalm 51, King David confesses his sin and is touched by the grace of God.  Are there any “sorrys” you might need to make to people gathered around the table?  Are there any words of “I forgive you” that you can offer?  Why is saying “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” so important in the life of a family? 

·         In Matthew, Jesus says where our treasure is, so is our heart.  What things do you most treasure?

Music

Christian artist Chris Tomlin sings a song, “Give Us Clean Hearts,” which is a very fitting praise song to begin the Lenten journey.  You can listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4Rt04In4w .  What words or phrases strike you in this song?

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We confess our sin to you.

We thank you that you are the God of Forgiveness.

Create in us clean hearts.

Renew right spirits within us.

Walk beside us on the Lenten journey.  Amen.

Family Dinner & Devos, Feb 3-10

Blessed Epiphany!

Scripture for the Week:  Luke 9:28-36
This passage is referred to as "The Transfiguration" of Jesus.

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

A voice came from the cloud saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."  Luke 9:35

• This passage is called "The Transfiguration."  The dictionary definition of "transfiguration" is:  1) a marked change in form or appearance; 2) a change that glorifies or exalts.  Within the Christian Church, The Transfiguration is this pivotal moment where human nature meets God - a bridge between heaven and earth.  The Celtic Christians call this a "thin place" - meaning that the line between heaven and earth seems thin.  Imagine that you are one of the disciples with Jesus.  What might have you done or said?
• The voice of God says, "This is my Son... listen to Him."  Most people have not actually heard God's voice like we hear each other's voices around the dinner table.  So how is it, then, that we LISTEN to God?  Why might it be important to listen to God each and every day?
• Peter said, "let's build tents" - in other words, Peter wanted to freeze this moment in time.  Have you ever has a spectacular moment of time that you have wanted to freeze (i.e. a "mountaintop experience")?  
• Christian singer and songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song called "The Mountain."  Chapman sings that he wants to stay up on the mountain, but he knows that God also calls him into the valley... that he is on a journey.  You can listen to the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JAqB5_EOAM and reflect on your own spiritual journey.

• And the Epiphany* question:  Where have you seen God at work this week? (or, Where have you spotted God this week? or, perhaps you want to reflect on this whole season of Epiphany and ask, "Where have you spotted God this season?"  and "How has God-spotting helped you as you begin 2013?") 

*Note that this is the last week of Epiphany.  Next week we observe Ash Wednesday and thus begin the season of Lent.  Learn more next week about our Lenten theme, "Something Old, Something New," next week!

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for mountain top experiences that strengthen us.
Help us on our journeys.
May we listen to you each and every day.

Amen.